The National Health Insurance Authority has announced expanded financial support for cancer treatment, with measures aimed at reducing the burden of expensive care on patients and their families.
The NHIA said eligible beneficiaries would receive up to 80 per cent coverage for the cost of selected cancer medicines under a partnership with pharmaceutical company Roche.
Under the arrangement, Roche will bear 50 per cent of the cost of the medicines, while the NHIA will contribute 30 per cent, leaving patients to pay the remaining 20 per cent.
The authority also disclosed additional financial assistance for radiotherapy, ranging from N400,000 to full coverage for eligible patients.
The NHIA Director-General, Dr Kelechi Ohiri, said the initiatives were designed to make health insurance provide tangible financial protection for Nigerians facing costly illnesses.
“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 when illness strikes,” Ohiri said.
The authority made the disclosure in a statement issued on Sunday to commemorate Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
It explained that cancer treatment could place significant financial pressure on households due to the repeated tests, surgeries, chemotherapy, radiotherapy and specialised medicines that patients may require.
Beyond the Roche partnership, the NHIA said its cancer-related benefits cover mammography, CT and MRI scans, bone scans, laboratory investigations, diagnostic tests and radiotherapy.
Depending on the applicable insurance package, beneficiaries may also receive support for screening, surgery, chemotherapy and follow-up treatment.
The authority said the interventions were necessary given Nigeria’s cancer burden and the high level of out-of-pocket spending associated with treatment.
Citing the Global Cancer Observatory, the NHIA said Nigeria records an estimated 32,278 new breast cancer cases and 16,332 deaths from the disease each year.
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It noted that breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer among Nigerian women and remains one of the major causes of cancer-related deaths in the country.
The authority also referenced a Federal Government disclosure in July 2026 which put Nigeria’s share of Africa’s cancer burden at about 10.5 per cent, placing the country among the three most affected nations on the continent.
According to the NHIA, the cost of treatment can leave families under prolonged financial strain, particularly as overseas treatment remains unaffordable for most Nigerians and cancer care available locally can also be expensive.
The authority said more than 23 million Nigerians are currently enrolled in the national health insurance system, providing a broader base for expanding financial protection against cancer and other high-cost diseases.
The NHIA said its efforts formed part of the Federal Government’s wider cancer prevention and treatment strategy being implemented through the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare.
Nigeria is currently implementing the National Cancer Control Plan 2026–2030, which focuses 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 nationwide.
The NHIA said centres at the University College Hospital, Ibadan; University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin; University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu; and Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Zaria, are already fully operational and equipped with specialised facilities, including brachytherapy machines.
It added that the Cancer Access Partnership programme provides 27 anti-cancer medicines in 48 formulations across 14 federal tertiary hospitals.
The Cancer Health Fund also provides assistance to indigent patients receiving treatment for breast, cervical and prostate cancers.
Despite the measures, the NHIA acknowledged that more interventions would be required to tackle the country’s cancer burden.
“As Breast Cancer Awareness Month begins, the Authority urged women to pay close attention to changes in their breasts, seek medical advice promptly and take advantage of screening opportunities where available,” the statement said.
The authority stressed that reducing breast cancer deaths and the financial hardship associated with treatment would require increased public awareness, earlier diagnosis, broader access to care and stronger financing mechanisms capable of protecting households from financial distress.