Cancer patients to get up to N400,000 radiotherapy support from NHIA
Cancer patients in Nigeria will soon benefit from financial assistance of up to N400,000 for radiotherapy under a new cost-sharing initiative from the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA).
Dr. Kelechi Ohiri, the Director-General of the NHIA, announced the program during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Abuja. He stated that the initiative aims to make cancer treatment more affordable for Nigerians, particularly those facing serious or advanced cases.
Eligible patients will receive a 50 percent reduction in the cost of radiotherapy, with the NHIA contributing up to N400,000 per patient. This decision comes amid rising costs of cancer treatment, which have hindered many patients from accessing necessary services.
Ohiri noted that the NHIA is collaborating with oncology centers across the country to enhance the availability and quality of radiotherapy. The authority plans to accredit more treatment facilities and strengthen partnerships with medical equipment suppliers and pharmaceutical companies to expand access to modern cancer care.
In addition to radiotherapy, the NHIA is extending insurance coverage for other cancer-related services through its formal sector program and the Group Individual and Family Social Health Insurance Programme (GIFSHIP). Services available to patients include a range of diagnostic tests, such as MRI and CT scans, mammography, ultrasound, histology, endoscopy, and tumor marker tests.
Ohiri also highlighted that select cancer surgeries, including mastectomies and prostatectomies, as well as certain chemotherapy drugs, are covered under different cost-sharing arrangements. To date, more than 200 cancer patients receiving treatment at seven tertiary health institutions nationwide have benefited from the program.
