Nigerians may soon begin to pay as low as 20 per cent of the entire cost for cancer treatment, as the Federal Government has partnered with a pharmaceutical company – Roche Products Nigeria Limited, to reduce catastrophic costs.

The partnership will ensure that the cost of cancer management for Nigerians subscribed to the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) is substantially reduced.

It was learnt that Nigerians may now pay as low as 20 per cent for cancer management and treatment because apart from the NHIS making part payment of the bill for oncology drugs, Roche has agreed to take a large share of the cost.

According to a statement by the Head of Media Relations of the NHIS, Emmanuel Ononokpono, both parties signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Cancer Care Reimbursement initiative.

It further stated that the partnership will be piloted in designated centres across the six geopolitical zones of the country.

“Broadly, the document outlines key areas of partnership between the two organisations along three main themes aimed at significantly improving patients’ access to innovative cancer medicines. Critically, the arrangement allows both parties to partner on an innovative cost-sharing mechanism, by way of sharing a proportion of the cost of the medicines. Expectedly, this will ensure the affordability of the drugs for patients at the treatment centres.

“In addition, the partnership enables both healthcare institutions to engage in capability-building initiatives that are designed to support the health insurance ecosystem. Ultimately, the health insurance regulator and Swiss drugs giant will work assiduously to accelerate the drive towards the attainment of Universal Health Coverage (UHC) in Nigeria,” it said.

Speaking at the event, General Manager, Roche Products Ltd., Nigeria, Dr Ladi Hammeed described the partnership as a significant and commendable milestone for cancer care in Nigeria, expressing the optimism that cancer patients will no longer have to deal with the catastrophic consequences of the diagnosis of the disease.

He noted that funding for early treatment, comprehensive care inclusive of surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy and targeted therapy improves treatment outcomes and ultimately the survival of the diagnosed patients.

Also speaking, the Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer of NHIS Prof Mohammed Sambo stated that the Scheme puts an invaluable premium on strategic stakeholders in the execution of its mandate to bring affordable and quality healthcare to all Nigerians, adding that the implementation of its ten-year strategic plan was on course.

The Executive Secretary, who was represented by the General Manager, Legal Services, Blessing Nienge, noted that the ongoing reforms in the Scheme have as its central objective the making healthcare affordable, adding that the initiative to ensure that drugs were available and affordable was receiving favourable attention.”

(The Nation)