The Nationwide Well being Insurance coverage Authority (NHIA) has launched a cost-sharing initiative to cut back the monetary burden of most cancers remedy.
Underneath the scheme, eligible most cancers sufferers present process radiotherapy will obtain a subsidy of as much as N400,000, bettering entry to important care.
The Director-Common of NHIA, Kelechi Ohiri, made this identified throughout an interview with the Information Company of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Wednesday.
Mr Ohiri famous that the transfer was in recognition of the excessive value of radiotherapy, a vital a part of most cancers remedy, because the world noticed World Most cancers Day.
“This initiative is a part of the authority’s broader technique to make most cancers remedy extra accessible and reasonably priced for Nigerians,” he stated.
He added that radiotherapy, a significant remedy for varied cancers, significantly in superior phases, has usually been out of attain for a lot of sufferers as a result of its excessive value.“To handle this, the NHIA is now providing a 50 per cent subsidy on radiotherapy bills, capped at N400,000.”
Mr Ohiri emphasised that the NHIA’s partnership with a number of oncology amenities throughout Nigeria aimed to enhance entry to high-quality radiotherapy providers.
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“The authority can also be targeted on rising the variety of accredited radiotherapy centres, strengthening collaborations with pharmaceutical and medical gear firms, and making certain fashionable radiotherapy know-how is accessible nationwide,” he stated.
He stated past radiotherapy, the NHIA is broadening its protection of oncology providers.He famous that via its formal sector programme and the Group Particular person and Household Social Well being Insurance coverage Programme (GIFSHIP), the NHIA offers entry to a variety of most cancers care providers.
He stated these providers embody entry to diagnostic instruments equivalent to tumour marker assays, MRI, CT scans, mammography, ultrasound, histology, and endoscopy.
“Protection for oncology-related surgical procedures equivalent to mastectomies and prostatectomies and entry to each totally and partially lined chemotherapy medicine via the NHIA’s cost-sharing mannequin,” he stated.
The Director-Common added that the NHIA was additionally collaborating with pharmaceutical giants like Roche Restricted and Pfizer to introduce cost-sharing for oncology medicines.
He stated this initiative has already benefited over 200 sufferers receiving care at seven tertiary care centres throughout the nation.
“NHIA is working to broaden its partnerships with different pharmaceutical firms to broaden entry to most cancers therapies.
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“NHIA is specializing in constructing a sustainable healthcare infrastructure for most cancers care by contracting service suppliers able to providing complete oncology providers, increasing entry to superior diagnostic providers, and rising the variety of accredited oncology centres throughout Nigeria.”
In assist of the initiative, former President of the Nigerian Most cancers Society (NCS), Adamu Umar, lauded the NHIA for its efforts to enhance entry to most cancers care, calling it a big step ahead.
He highlighted that radiotherapy is essential, significantly for sufferers in superior phases, and added that the NHIA’s cost-sharing mannequin would assist alleviate the monetary pressure on sufferers and their households.
“The NHIA’s initiative is a step in the fitting route, and extra sufferers should profit from such programmes,” he stated.(NAN)
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