The Federal Government has called on Nigerians living with cancer to register with the National Health Insurance Authority, NHIA, to benefit an affordable medication and financial assistance as against costly treatment. The Osun State NHIA Coordinator, Olakekan Falode made the appeal during a sensitisation programme held at the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital Complex, OAUTHC, Ile-Ife, highlighting the importance of health insurance, particularly for managing terminal illnesses and life-threatening conditions like cancer.
According to Falode the health insurance is now mandatory in Nigeria where he presented a sustainable approach to managing the rising costs associated with cancer care.
He disclosed, “Cancer is not a disease anyone can easily afford to treat, because even the wealthy struggles”.
During the programme, the coordinator also presented the formal introduction of the NHIA-Roche cost-sharing initiative in Osun State, a collaborative effort between the Federal Government and Roche, a global pharmaceutical company.
Under the cost-sharing arrangement, eligible cancer patients enrolled with NHIA will be responsible for just 20 per cent of the cost of select cancer drugs and Roche will subsidise 50 per cent, while NHIA will cover the remaining 30 per cent.
He added that new enrollees can immediately benefit from Roche’s 50 per cent subsidy, even before their NHIA registration is fully processed.
“Once the registration is complete, the NHIA subsidy takes effect. This initiative allows us to support enrollees by taking care of a major portion of their drug costs. It’s a lifeline for many,” Falode said.
Considering the benefit, he said “This is why it is important for every Nigerian to begin to make enquiries about health insurance. It’s not just mandatory, it’s vital.”
The Healthcare System Partner Policy Lead for Roche Nigeria, Olayode Babarinde, , also addressed participants at the event.
He disclosed that the cost-sharing initiative is expanding to 17 additional medical centres across the country, including OAUTHC, Ile-Ife.
“The partnership ensures that many of our innovative cancer medicines become accessible at designated centres at subsidised rates,” Babarinde explained.
In his remarks, the Chief Medical Director of OAUTHC, Professor John Okeniyi, praised the NHIA-Roche initiative, describing it as a model for effective public-private partnerships.
Prof Okeniyi noted that such collaborations would significantly improve cancer management and follow-up care in Nigeria.
He disclosed that the cost-sharing initiative is expanding to 17 additional medical centres across the country, including OAUTHC, Ile-Ife.
