The National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) and Roche Product Ltd., a Swiss drug giant, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on cancer care reimbursement initiative.

The MoU outlined key areas that would significantly improve patients’ access to innovative cancer medicines.

The partnership would be piloted in designated centres across the six geopolitical zones of the country.

The arrangement allows both parties to partner on an innovative cost sharing mechanism by way of sharing a proportion of the cost of the medicines.

General Manager of Roche Product Ltd., Dr Ladi Hammeed, described the partnership as a significant and commendable milestone for cancer care in Nigeria.

Hammeed expressed optimism that cancer patients would no longer have to deal with the catastrophic consequences of the diagnosis of the disease.

“Funding for early treatment, comprehensive care inclusive of surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy and targeted therapy would improve treatment outcomes and ultimately the survival of the diagnosed patients,” Hammeed said.

The Executive Secretary of NHIS, Prof. Mohammed Sambo, said that the scheme had put an invaluable premium on strategic stakeholders in the execution of its mandate to bring affordable and quality healthcare to all.

Sambo, who was represented by the General Manager, Legal Services, Blessing Nienge, added that the implementation of the NHIS 10-year strategic plan is on course.

He said the central objective of ongoing reforms in the scheme is making healthcare affordable, adding that the MoU will ensure that drugs are made available and affordable.