NHIA Expands Cover to Cut Cancer Treatment Costs

The National Health Insurance Authority has expanded its financial protection for cancer patients as part of efforts to reduce the high cost of treatment and ease the burden on families.

The authority said eligible patients can now benefit from an arrangement covering 80 per cent of the cost of selected oncology medicines, while additional support has also been introduced for radiotherapy and cancer-related diagnostic services.

The Director-General of the NHIA, Dr Kelechi Ohiri, disclosed the development in a statement issued on Sunday to mark Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Under an expanded cost-sharing partnership between the NHIA and pharmaceutical company Roche, Roche covers 50 per cent of the cost of selected cancer medicines, while the NHIA contributes another 30 per cent. Patients are responsible for the remaining 20 per cent.

The arrangement is designed to reduce the amount patients pay directly for expensive cancer medicines and make it easier for eligible beneficiaries to continue treatment.

The NHIA also said it had introduced additional financial support ranging from N400,000 to full coverage for eligible patients receiving radiotherapy.

Other cancer-related services covered under applicable insurance packages include mammography, CT and MRI scans, bone scans, laboratory and other diagnostic tests, radiotherapy, surgery, chemotherapy and follow-up care.

Ohiri said the measures were intended to make health insurance meaningful to Nigerians facing serious illnesses, rather than focusing only on the number of people enrolled.

He noted that cancer treatment could place considerable financial pressure on households because patients may require repeated tests, surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy and specialised medicines.

According to the NHIA, more than 23 million Nigerians are currently enrolled in the national health insurance system, providing a wider platform for extending financial protection against high-cost illnesses.

The authority said the cancer intervention formed part of broader health-sector reforms aimed at improving access to healthcare and reducing out-of-pocket spending.

Nigeria continues to face a significant cancer burden. The NHIA cited estimates showing about 32,278 new breast cancer cases and 16,332 deaths annually, with breast cancer remaining the most commonly diagnosed cancer among Nigerian women.

The Federal Government is also implementing the National Cancer Control Plan 2026–2030, which focuses on prevention, early detection, diagnosis, treatment, patient support, research and strengthening the oncology workforce.

The NHIA said its expanded coverage would complement these efforts by helping eligible patients access treatment without facing the full financial burden alone.