By Ojoma Akor
Stakeholders from the health sector have called for expansion and sustainable financing of the national cancer health fund ( NCHF).
They made the call Thursday in Abuja during the multi-stakeholder advocacy Initiative meeting for the transformation of the NCHF. It was organized by the National Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment (NICRAT) in collaboration with Roche and other partners.
The Minister of State for finance , Dr. Doris Uzoka-Anite, who was represented by the Director of Human Resource Management, Aderonke Abimbola Jaiyesimi said the NCHF
was a significant milestone in ensuring equity in health care, especially for the most disadvantaged segment of the population.
She said there was a compelling need to strengthen the NCHF by transforming it into a more robust and sustainable financing mechanism.
She said, “It is essential to engage NICRAT and other relevant stakeholders in crafting comprehensive financing strategy, improving fund management system and advocating for the integration of cancer care into the basic health care provision fund as a sustainable, integrated cancer care program. This can be realized through the following approaches, firstly , adequate and predictable funding. This can be achieved through innovative financing mechanisms such as health bonds and earmarked taxes to mobilize long term resources.”
She highlighted that the launch of the legislative network on cancer (LNC) is a major step forward, adding, ” I urge the national assembly to support the enactment of a comprehensive cancer control act, which has secure, protected and consistent funding stream for cancer care”.
She also stated that every Naira allocated to the cancer health fund must be properly tracked and utilized, noting that a transparent monitoring and public reporting framework is essential to ensure effective fund management and build public trust.
” Collaboration, cross sector partnerships are very vital. The establishment of a multi sectoral cancer financing task force will be a step in the right direction to drive coordination and accountability,” she said.
Dr Gafar Alawode , chief executive officer of DGI consult said Investment in health yields exponential returns.
He stated that health investments improve productivity, reduce absenteeism , and extends working years.
He said early detection and treatment of breast cancer in Africa yields $12.43 per $1 spent- much higher than late stage care.
He said, “Every $100 million invested in HPV vaccination in Nigeria yielded $ 134 million in total economic output. Prioritizing cancer care, especially for conditions like HER2+ breast cancer, offers significant societal benefits beyond saving lives. By reducing productivity loss and fostering a healthier populace, strategic funding and cross-sector collaboration in cancer care are essential for Nigeria’s prosperity and economic development. This makes breast cancer care not just a medical issue, but a national economic imperative.”
While calling for a paradigm shift in health spending narrative — from mere expenditure to investment , Dr Alawode said it was crucial to Improve prioritization of the cancer health fund investment to cover more patients through coverage of more centres and cancer types.
He highlighted that lawmakers should deploy statutory functions of appropriation, oversight and accountability to support improved investment in health and cancer control.
He called for enhanced efficiency of cancer health fund spending through transparency and accountability to achieve better health outcomes
He also said there was need to leverage SWAp mechanism to harness resources for health and cancer from all sources (government, donors and private sector , adding that stakeholders should promote intersectoral prioritization of investment in cancer control and push for health to reflect as an important driver of the economy.
The former chairman of the Senate Committee on Health, Senator Ibrahim Oloriegbe called on current legislators to give the cancer health fund the desired attention in the 2026 budget.
Dr. Ladi Hameed, General Manager, Roche Products Limited said some progress have been made in cancer care in Nigeria over the years, but that a lot more still needs to be done.
He enjoined stakeholders not to relent in their efforts but continue to encourage government and also give feedback.
He said Roche is a leading diagnostic and treatment player in cancer care , adding that the organization is committed to supporting cancer care and the network.
A cancer survivor ,Titilayo, said she has benefitted immensely from the cancer health fund. However, she added that some critical drugs for breast cancer treatment were still not available under the fund.
