By Ojoma Akor:
The National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) has signed an expanded Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Roche, a leading multinational healthcare company to enhance access to treatment and affordable cancer care in the country.
Speaking during the signing ceremony in Abuja, Dr Ladi Hameed, the General Manager, Roche Nigeria said the expanded MOU builds upon an already existing MOU rooted in a shared vision to significantly increase the number of Nigerians who can benefit from comprehensive cancer care coverage as enrollees of the scheme.
He said the MOU focuses on streamlining the enrollment process for newly diagnosed patients while ensuring that specialized tests like immunohistochemistry (IHC) and treatment regimens, including Roche innovative therapies, are more accessible and affordable.
It also creates access to patient navigation and counselling services, an important but often neglected component of cancer treatment.
He said,.” The expanded MOU is yet another weapon in the fight against breast cancer, the leading cause of death among Nigerian women. In 2022, according to the Global Cancer Observatory (GLOBOCAN), there were over 30,000 new cases of breast cancer in Nigeria.
“Patients face considerable barriers to accessing timely and effective care as costs are paid for out-of-pocket by over eighty percent of Nigerians.”
He stated that the expanded MOU is a critical step towards alleviating these challenges by providing hope and financial protection for individuals and families affected by cancer.
“The initiative by NHIA and Roche to improve access to care, complements other efforts to improve accurate diagnosis and treatment of cancer,” he added.
While thanking the NHIA for its visionary leadership, Dr Hameed, said, “With this agreement, every newly diagnosed cancer patient has the opportunity to access the treatment they need to improve their outcomes and quality of life while meaningfully contributing to the Nigerian economy.”
The Director General NHIA, Dr. Kelechi Ohiri said his organization is committed to achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC) in Nigeria.
He said cancer places a catastrophic financial burden on Nigerians, and expressed confidence that the programme will alleviate hardship ensuring Nigerians are healthier and more productive.
He said, “The NHIA is scaling the quality and scope of cancer diagnostic and treatment services at tertiary care centres. In the coming weeks, we will launch health insurance awareness campaigns as well. I’m using this opportunity to encourage every Nigerian to enroll for health insurance in order to benefit from coverage.”
Since the first –NHIA – Roche MOU in 2021, the number of cancer ‘Centres of Excellence’ has almost tripled from seven to a current total of 20.
Both Roche and the NHIA are leveraging their expertise and resources to strengthen the existing framework for cancer care. These includes initiatives aimed at improving accurate diagnosis of cancer, simplifying patient navigation and ensuring the sustainable provision of life-saving cancer medicines through the NHIA.
