The Federal Government has called on Nigerians, especially those battling cancer, to enrol in the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) scheme as a pathway to affordable cancer treatment and long-term care.
This appeal was made during a sensitisation event held at the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals Complex (OAUTHC) in Ile-Ife, Osun State, to introduce the NHIA-Roche cost-sharing initiative — a public-private partnership aimed at easing the financial burden of cancer treatment.
Mr. Olalekan Falode, NHIA Coordinator for Osun State, emphasized that health insurance is now mandatory in Nigeria and remains the most sustainable means to tackle costly diseases like cancer.
“Even the wealthy find it difficult to manage the cost of cancer treatment,” he said. “Under this initiative, enrollees only pay 20% of the cost of select cancer drugs, while Roche covers 50% and NHIA shoulders the remaining 30%. This is a game-changer for cancer care in Nigeria.”
Falode added that newly registered patients can immediately benefit from Roche’s subsidy even before full NHIA activation. “This underlines the urgency for all Nigerians to seek information and enrol in the health insurance scheme—it’s not just mandatory, it’s life-saving,” he stressed.
Speaking on behalf of Roche Nigeria, Mr. Olayode Babarinde, Healthcare System Partner Policy Lead, confirmed that the cost-sharing initiative will be extended to 17 centres across Nigeria, including OAUTHC.
“The goal is to make advanced cancer treatments accessible to more patients across the country. Through this initiative, patients can receive some of the most effective cancer medications at significantly reduced costs,” Babarinde noted.
Also present at the event, Prof. John Okeniyi, Chief Medical Director of OAUTHC, described the programme as a model for effective public-private collaboration that will enhance not only access but also continuity in cancer care for Nigerians.
The NHIA-Roche initiative is part of a broader government strategy to expand access to healthcare, ensure affordability, and strengthen the fight against non-communicable diseases nationwide.
