NHIA Expands Cancer Support as Nigeria Calls for Earlier Breast Cancer Detection
By Fact Harbour News
The National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) has called on Nigerian women to take breast health seriously and seek medical attention promptly when they notice unusual changes, as the country intensifies efforts to reduce the human and financial burden of cancer.
The appeal comes during Breast Cancer Awareness Month, with the NHIA simultaneously announcing expanded financial support for insured patients undergoing cancer treatment. The measures are designed to reduce the amount families have to pay directly for selected medicines, radiotherapy and diagnostic services.
According to figures cited by the NHIA from the Global Cancer Observatory, Nigeria records an estimated 32,278 new breast cancer cases and 16,332 deaths each year. Breast cancer remains the most frequently diagnosed cancer among Nigerian women and is also among the major causes of cancer-related deaths in the country.
The scale of the problem has increased pressure on government and healthcare stakeholders to improve prevention, diagnosis and access to treatment. The Federal Government said in July that Nigeria accounts for approximately 10.5 per cent of Africa’s cancer burden, placing the country among the three African countries with the highest burden.
For the NHIA, one of the major challenges is not simply getting Nigerians enrolled in health insurance but ensuring that insurance coverage provides meaningful assistance when patients develop expensive illnesses.
NHIA Director-General, Dr Kelechi Ohiri, said the effectiveness of the insurance system should increasingly be assessed by the extent to which it protects families from financial hardship when serious illness occurs.
The authority said more than 23 million Nigerians are currently enrolled in the national health insurance system, creating a wider platform for expanding financial protection for people requiring costly medical care.
A major component of the latest intervention is the expanded collaboration between the NHIA and pharmaceutical company Roche.
Under the arrangement, Roche takes responsibility for 50 per cent of the cost of selected oncology medicines, while the NHIA contributes 30 per cent. Eligible patients are therefore required to pay the remaining 20 per cent of the cost of the medicines covered by the arrangement.
The structure means that eligible beneficiaries can receive an 80 per cent reduction in their direct medicine costs, potentially easing one of the financial pressures associated with prolonged cancer treatment.
The NHIA has also introduced additional financial assistance for radiotherapy, ranging from support of up to ₦400,000 to full coverage for eligible patients, depending on the applicable benefit arrangements.
Cancer-related diagnostic services available under relevant NHIA programmes include mammography, CT and MRI scans, bone scans and laboratory investigations. Depending on the applicable package and eligibility requirements, other aspects of care such as screening, surgery, chemotherapy and follow-up treatment may also receive support.
The interventions are coming against the backdrop of concerns that the cost of cancer care can place considerable pressure on Nigerian households. Patients may require several stages of treatment, including diagnostic investigations, surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy and specialised medicines, with some cases requiring prolonged medical attention.
The Federal Government is also implementing the National Cancer Control Plan 2026–2030, which covers prevention, early detection, diagnosis, treatment, patient navigation, survivorship, research, data management and development of the oncology workforce.
As part of the wider response, the government is upgrading six Oncology Centres of Excellence located at the University College Hospital, Ibadan; University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu; Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Zaria; University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin City; Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital, Sokoto; and National Hospital Abuja. The Federal Ministry of Health says four of the centres are currently fully operational.
Another government-backed intervention is the Cancer Access Partnership programme, which provides access to 27 anti-cancer medicines in 48 formulations across 14 federal tertiary hospitals. The Cancer Health Fund also provides support for eligible indigent patients receiving treatment for breast, cervical and prostate cancers.
The emphasis on early detection remains central to the country’s response because diagnosis at a later stage can make treatment more complex and costly. The NHIA has therefore encouraged women to pay attention to changes in their breasts and seek professional medical advice rather than delaying assessment.
The authority’s position is that financial protection and early medical attention need to work together. While insurance support can help reduce the cost of treatment, earlier detection can also improve the opportunity for timely medical intervention.
Recent efforts have also focused on improving the quality of breast cancer diagnosis. In August, Roche Nigeria launched a programme providing eligible breast cancer patients with free immunohistochemistry testing at selected facilities. The test helps identify the characteristics and subtype of breast cancer, information that can guide treatment decisions.
With Nigeria continuing to strengthen its cancer-control infrastructure, health authorities and other stakeholders are increasingly placing emphasis on prevention, timely diagnosis, accessible treatment and financial protection.
For women, the current awareness campaign is also a reminder that unusual breast changes should not be ignored. Health professionals can determine the appropriate screening or diagnostic procedure based on a person’s age, symptoms, medical history and individual risk factors.
The NHIA’s expanded coverage represents one part of the broader national response. The authority has stressed that reducing the impact of cancer will require sustained investment in prevention, early detection, diagnostics, treatment facilities, medicines and health insurance.
As Breast Cancer Awareness Month continues, the message from health authorities remains focused on two connected priorities: identifying cancer as early as possible and ensuring that the cost of necessary treatment does not place an overwhelming financial burden on affected families.
