FG urged to include cancer treatment in NHIS

The federal government has been enjoined to include the treatment of cancer in the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS). Founder of a nongovernmental organisation, Stand Up To Cancer Nigeria made the call during the free screening programme organized for residents of Abuja by the foundation. He said doing so will go long way in alleviating […]

The federal government has been enjoined to include the treatment of cancer in the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).

Founder of a nongovernmental organisation, Stand Up To Cancer Nigeria made the call during the free screening programme organized for residents of Abuja by the foundation.

He said doing so will go long way in alleviating the suffering of patients in the country. According to him, subsidizing the cost of treatment will help patients not to pay 100 percent out of pocket. 

He also called on the federal government to set up more cancer centres and to equip them with radiotherapy machines.

Egwuenu said that after  being screened and diagnosed with cancer, many patients could not access treatment either because the radiotherapy machines had broken down, or there were no drugs or they could not afford the treatment, among others.

He said: “Government needs to do a lot more about the treatment of cancer in Nigeria. Recently, I heard that none of the radiotheraphy machines in the country was working. The government needs to provide more treatment centres in the country so that when this awareness is created and people find out that they need medicare, they can find somewhere close to them at a reduced cost”, 

He said the free screening exercise was carried out to promote cancer awareness and healthy eating.

“The programme promotes healthy eating because it is one way we can keep cancer away from us and cancer screening because when cancer is diagnosed early it could lead to cure”, said.