he Federal Government has announced new measures aimed at reducing the cost of cancer treatment by expanding financial support, encouraging local production of medicines and strengthening research to improve access to quality care across the country.
The Director-General of the National Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment, Prof. Usman Aliyu, disclosed this on Saturday during the Best of American Society of Clinical Oncology Africa 2026 conference held in Abuja.
The conference, organised in partnership with the African Organisation for Research and Training in Cancer, focused on translating global cancer research into practical solutions for African healthcare systems.
Aliyu said the government recognised that many Nigerians still struggled to pay for cancer care despite recent interventions. He explained that existing programmes, including the Catastrophic Health Fund under the National Health Insurance Authority, help cover the cost of cancer screening, diagnosis, chemotherapy and radiotherapy for eligible patients.
He added that the institute also operates the National Cancer Health Fund, which provides financial assistance to indigent patients who cannot afford treatment.
According to him, ongoing reforms under the Presidential Initiative for Unlocking the Healthcare Value Chain will encourage domestic production of cancer medicines, reduce dependence on imports and improve the availability of affordable drugs.
Aliyu noted that experts attending the conference would examine major findings presented at the latest ASCO annual meeting and explore ways of adapting proven cancer treatment approaches to suit African healthcare settings.
Also speaking, the Special Adviser on Research and Innovation to the Minister of State for Health, Dr Lolade Adewale, said the government was working to strengthen health insurance coverage for cancer patients through targeted funding initiatives.
She said both the Cancer Health Fund and the Social Determinants of Health Fund were expected to improve access to treatment for eligible Nigerians, adding that more details on the expanded insurance arrangements would be announced within the next year.
Adewale also revealed that Nigeria had begun its first immunotherapy clinical trials, allowing participants to receive advanced cancer medicines such as Nivolumab and Keytruda at no cost through the studies. She said the initiative would reduce the need for many patients to travel abroad for specialised treatment.
The immediate past president of the African Organisation for Research and Training in Cancer, Dr Miriam Mutebi, expressed concern over Africa’s limited contribution to global cancer research. She said the continent accounts for only a small share of worldwide research despite carrying a significant burden of diseases such as cervical and prostate cancer.
Mutebi urged African governments to increase investment in research and development, noting that stronger local evidence would help improve diagnosis, treatment outcomes and overall healthcare delivery.
The Chief Medical Officer of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, Dr Julie Gralow, said many of the latest cancer treatments had not been sufficiently evaluated among African populations. She said the conference provided an opportunity to determine how global research findings could be effectively adapted to local realities while addressing issues of affordability and access.
