The National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) has intensified calls for early breast cancer screening among Nigerian women while unveiling expanded financial support aimed at reducing the cost of treatment for patients battling the disease.
The move comes as Nigeria marks Breast Cancer Awareness Month amid concerns over rising cancer cases and the financial burden associated with treatment. Health authorities estimate that more than 32,000 new breast cancer cases are recorded annually in the country, while over 16,000 deaths occur each year, making it one of the deadliest cancers affecting Nigerian women.
The NHIA said strengthening access to affordable diagnosis and treatment remains a critical part of efforts to improve survival rates and protect families from catastrophic healthcare expenses.
Speaking on the initiative, the Director General of NHIA, Dr Kelechi Ohiri, stressed that health insurance should serve as a safety net when serious illnesses occur, rather than merely existing as a registration record.
To reduce treatment costs, the authority has expanded its partnership with pharmaceutical giant Roche under a cost-sharing arrangement for selected oncology medicines. Under the programme, Roche covers 50 per cent of the cost of approved medicines, NHIA contributes 30 per cent, while patients are responsible for the remaining 20 per cent.
The arrangement effectively removes up to 80 per cent of the direct medicine costs that cancer patients would ordinarily bear.
In addition to drug support, NHIA said eligible patients can access radiotherapy assistance ranging from hundreds of thousands of naira to full coverage depending on their insurance category. Coverage also extends to important diagnostic procedures such as mammograms, CT scans, MRI scans, bone scans and laboratory investigations.
The agency noted that several aspects of cancer management, including screening, surgery, chemotherapy and follow-up care, are already incorporated into available insurance benefits for qualified enrollees.
According to NHIA, more than 23 million Nigerians are currently enrolled in the national health insurance scheme.
The intervention forms part of broader healthcare reforms being implemented by the Federal Government through the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare. Cancer control has been identified as a major national priority under the Nigeria National Cancer Control Plan 2026–2030.
As part of ongoing efforts, the government is also expanding specialised oncology services across the country through the establishment and upgrade of cancer treatment centres in major teaching hospitals. Authorities believe improved access to screening, early diagnosis and affordable treatment will significantly reduce cancer-related deaths and improve outcomes for patients nationwide.
