Former Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, has tasked the federal government and stakeholders to establish a system that promotes early detection of cancer.
He emphasized that this would prevent late-stage diagnosis and ensure that cancer patients receive proper treatment without having to worry about the financial burden.
Speaking at the official unveiling of the National Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment (NICRAT) in Abuja, Adewole expressed concern about the exorbitant cost of cancer treatment in Nigeria, which is disproportionate to the economic situation of the majority of Nigerians.
“Available records indicate that about 72-80% of cancer patients in Nigeria pay out of pocket for their care, an action that is not in line with reality since many are unable to afford it,” Adewole lamented.
He highlighted that breast surgery, for example, typically costs around N250,000, a significant amount beyond the reach of most patients. He also noted that the economic loss due to cancer in Nigeria was estimated at over $5 billion in 2019.
Adewole emphasized the need for critical stakeholders to understand the danger cancer poses to the future of the country.
He stated, “While the alarming rate of death from cancer points to the state of medical institutions in Nigeria, it is important for critical stakeholders to understand the danger the disease poses to the future of our country. It is bad enough that cancer is a terminal disease, it is worse when most Nigerian medical centres lack the diagnostic capacity to quickly detect and treat cancer infections.”
Highlighting the mismatch between the cost of cancer treatment and the income of most Nigerians suffering from the disease, Adewole called for the government and other stakeholders to establish a framework that encourages early diagnosis and provides access to affordable treatment and management.
Adewole commended Nigeria’s healthcare system for moving towards Universal Health Coverage (UHC) with the establishment of the Basic Health Care Provisions Fund (BHCPF) and health insurance schemes under the National Health Insurance Agency (NHIA).
He emphasized the need to integrate cancer care into all UHC programs, stating, “There is a need to integrate cancer care into all UHC programs since poor Nigerians cannot pay out of pocket.
This framework must ensure Nigerians, irrespective of location, get unfettered access to healthcare services for the diagnosis, treatment, and management of cancer while the government expands the Cancer Health Fund and sets aside resources from the insurance pool to tackle their challenges. Cancer is preventable and treatable during its early stage, and Nigerians deserve this and more.”
The Director-General of NICRAT, Prof. Usman Malami Aliyu, commended the Federal Government for establishing the institute, emphasizing its aim to improve cancer research and treatment in Nigeria.
He expressed his appreciation to the patients, survivors, and their families for their resilience, courage, and hope, stating that they are the real heroes in the fight against cancer.
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