The Director-General of the National Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment (NICRAT), Prof. Usman Aliyu, says that the Nigerian Government is expanding funding, local drug production and research to improve cancer prevention, diagnosis and treatment while easing patients’ financial burden.
Prof. Aliyu told the Best of American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Africa 2026 conference on Saturday in Abuja that the Nigerian government had introduced measures to make cancer care more affordable, although treatment remained beyond the reach of many Nigerians.
He said that the Catastrophic Health Fund under the National Health Insurance Authority subsidised cancer prevention, diagnosis, chemotherapy and radiotherapy for eligible patients.
He added that NICRAT operated the National Cancer Health Fund to support indigent cancer patients unable to afford treatment.
“These are initiatives by the government to support Nigerians suffering from this dreadful disease,” he said.
Aliyu explained that the Presidential Initiative for Unlocking the Healthcare Value Chain will promote local production of cancer medicines and improve access to affordable treatment.
He said that experts at the conference would review landmark studies presented at the ASCO Annual Meeting and adapt proven innovations to African health systems.
“We are trying to domesticate expensive treatments by producing much-needed medicines locally and translating global research into action in our clinics,” he said.
In her speech, Dr. Lolade Adewale, Special Adviser on Research and Innovation to the Minister of State for Health, said that the government was expanding financial protection for cancer patients through targeted insurance schemes.
She said that the Cancer Health Fund and the Social Determinants of Health Fund would improve access to treatment for eligible patients.
“Within the next year, you will hear more about it,” she said, referring to the efforts to strengthen cancer insurance coverage.
Adewale said that Nigeria had commenced three immunotherapy clinical studies for the first time, giving patients access to advanced medicines previously unavailable in the country.
According to her, medicines such as Nivolumab and Keytruda are now available through clinical trials at no cost to participating Nigerians, reducing the need to seek treatment abroad.
The conference, organised with the African Organisation for Research and Training in Cancer (AORTIC), has the theme: “From Global Discovery to Local Delivery: Driving Africa to the Cutting Edge of Cancer Care.”
GIK/APA