Cancer patients in Nigeria will receive financial support of up to N400,000 for radiotherapy under a new cost-sharing programme launched by the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA). The intervention aims to reduce the burden of cancer treatment costs that have long prevented many Nigerians from accessing essential care.
Dr Kelechi Ohiri, the NHIA director-general, announced the initiative in Abuja during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria. Under the arrangement, eligible patients will receive a 50 per cent reduction in radiotherapy costs, with the authority’s contribution capped at N400,000 per patient. Ohiri said the decision was driven by concerns over rising treatment expenses, which have particularly affected patients with serious or advanced cases.
The authority is collaborating with oncology centres nationwide to improve the availability and quality of radiotherapy services. Additional plans include accrediting more treatment centres and strengthening partnerships with medical equipment suppliers and pharmaceutical companies to expand access to modern cancer care.
The intervention extends beyond radiotherapy. NHIA is widening insurance coverage for other cancer-related services through its formal sector programme and the Group Individual and Family Social Health Insurance Programme (GIFSHIP). Covered diagnostic services include MRI and CT scans, mammography, ultrasound, histology, endoscopy and tumour marker tests. Selected cancer-related surgeries, including mastectomies and prostatectomies, as well as certain chemotherapy drugs, are also included under separate cost-sharing arrangements.
More than 200 cancer patients receiving treatment at seven tertiary health institutions across the country have already benefited from the medicine cost-sharing programme. The authority says it will continue expanding the network of accredited facilities and covered services to reach more patients nationwide.