The National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) in Nigeria has called for increased awareness and early detection of breast cancer, citing alarming statistics. Annually, an estimated 16,332 lives are lost and 32,278 new cases are recorded in the country. These numbers highlight the urgent need for women to prioritize breast cancer screening. The NHIA emphasized that delayed diagnosis exacerbates the health and financial burden on patients and their families.
As Nigeria joins the global community to mark World Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the NHIA is highlighting its efforts to reduce the cost of cancer treatment and expand access to diagnosis and care. Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among Nigerian women and a leading cause of cancer deaths. The country accounts for about 10.5 per cent of Africa's cancer burden. The NHIA, under the leadership of its Director-General, Dr. Kelechi Ohiri, has been expanding its interventions for cancer and other high-cost illnesses.
The NHIA has partnered with Roche to provide eligible insured patients with an 80 per cent reduction in the cost of selected oncology medicines. Under this partnership, Roche covers 50 per cent of the cost, the NHIA covers 30 per cent, and patients pay the remaining 20 per cent. Additionally, the Authority has introduced support ranging from N400,000 to full coverage for eligible radiotherapy patients. Existing benefits include coverage for mammography, CT and MRI scans, bone scans, cancer-related laboratory and diagnostic tests, and radiotherapy.
The NHIA's cancer-care packages include elements of screening, surgery, chemotherapy, and follow-up care, depending on the applicable benefit package. Dr. Ohiri emphasized that the effectiveness of the health insurance system should be judged by the protection it provides when Nigerians fall seriously ill. He argued that the critical measure of the insurance system should no longer be the number of Nigerians carrying insurance records but whether those records provide meaningful protection during illness.
With over 23 million Nigerians enrolled in the national health insurance system, the NHIA believes that expanding coverage provides a platform for extending financial protection against cancer and other high-cost diseases. These interventions are part of the wider health reform agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's administration, coordinated by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare under Professor Muhammad Ali Pate.
The Federal Government is implementing the Nigeria National Cancer Control Plan 2026–2030, focusing on prevention, early detection, diagnosis, treatment, patient navigation, survivorship, research, data management, and strengthening the oncology workforce. The government is also upgrading six Oncology Centres of Excellence across the country, with centres at UCH Ibadan, UBTH Benin, UNTH Enugu, and ABUTH Zaria already fully operational, equipped with specialized equipment, including brachytherapy machines.
Despite these efforts, the NHIA urges women to be alert to changes in their breasts, seek medical attention promptly, and utilize screening opportunities where available. The Authority emphasizes that reducing the country's breast cancer burden will ultimately depend on stronger awareness, earlier diagnosis, wider access to treatment, and financing that prevents cancer from pushing affected families into financial hardship.
Key points
- The NHIA has expanded its interventions for cancer, including a partnership with Roche to reduce the cost of oncology medicines.
- Nigeria accounts for about 10.5 per cent of Africa's cancer burden, with breast cancer being the most commonly diagnosed cancer among Nigerian women.
- The Federal Government is implementing the Nigeria National Cancer Control Plan 2026–2030 to combat the high cancer burden.
