Jos: The National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), in collaboration with pharmaceutical company Roche, has announced an 80 percent subsidy on certain cancer medications at the Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH). This initiative is part of the ongoing efforts to make cancer treatment more accessible and affordable for patients across the country.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Dr. Ugochi Ozoilo, the Assistant Director at NHIA, stated that this subsidy marks the integration of JUTH into the oncology cost-sharing initiative spearheaded by NHIA and Roche. This partnership aims to alleviate the financial strain on families dealing with cancer and to bridge the equity gap in healthcare access. Dr. Ozoilo emphasized that the initiative is designed to improve the affordability and outcomes of cancer care nationwide.
She explained that under this program, Roche covers 50 percent of the drug costs, NHIA contributes 30 percent, and patients who are enrolled in NHIA pay the remaining 20 percent. Those not enrolled in NHIA are required to cover 50 percent of the costs. This subsidy allows patients to access high-cost oncology drugs at significantly reduced prices, representing a significant advancement in public-private healthcare collaboration.
Mr. Sar Terseer, the Head of Access and Policy at Roche, highlighted the company’s commitment to making life-saving medications more accessible and to shielding patients from the financial devastation that often accompanies a cancer diagnosis. He noted that with insurance support, patients are able to sustain their medication regimen for up to 17 or 18 cycles, a stark contrast to the mere three cycles they could afford before this initiative.
Furthermore, Terseer pointed out that the partnership between Roche and NHIA has led to improved survival outcomes, emphasizing that the collaboration extends beyond mere cost reduction to include equity in healthcare, early diagnosis, standard of care, and patient navigation. Under this initiative, patients are required to pay N 10,000 per treatment cycle at the hospital.
Dr. Pokop Bupwatda, Chief Medical Director of JUTH, praised the initiative as a transformative step in reducing the financial burden associated with cancer treatment. Represented by Dr. Josiah Njem, Chairman of the Medical Advisory Committee at JUTH, Bupwatda noted that this development would ease the difficulty cancer patients face in accessing necessary medications.
