Federal Govt Expands Cancer Funding, Research For More Access To Treatment

The federal government has revealed plans to expand funding for cancer care, promote local production of cancer medicines and strengthen research as part of efforts to improve prevention, diagnosis and treatment while reducing the financial burden on patients.

The director-general of the National Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment (NICRAT), Prof. Usman Malami, disclosed this at the Best of American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Africa 2026 conference, organised in collaboration with the African Organisation for Research and Training in Cancer (AORTIC), held in Abuja.

The conference, themed “From Global Discovery to Local Delivery: Driving Africa to the Cutting Edge of Cancer Care,” brought together cancer experts, researchers and policymakers to explore ways of adapting global innovations to African health systems.

Malami said the federal government had introduced several initiatives to make cancer care more affordable, acknowledging that treatment remains beyond the reach of many Nigerians.

He explained that the Catastrophic Health Fund, domiciled in the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), subsidises cancer prevention, diagnosis, chemotherapy and radiotherapy for eligible patients, while NICRAT also operates the National Cancer Health Fund to support indigent patients unable to afford treatment.

“These are initiatives by the government to support the people of Nigeria suffering from this dreadful disease,” he said.

Malami added that the Presidential Initiative for Unlocking the Healthcare Value Chain would boost local production of cancer medicines, reduce dependence on imported drugs and improve access to affordable treatment.

He said experts at the conference would review landmark studies presented at the recent ASCO Annual Meeting and identify practical ways of adapting the findings to African healthcare systems.

“What we are trying to do is domesticate expensive treatments by producing much-needed medicines locally and translating global research into actions in our clinics,” he said.

Also speaking, the Special Adviser on Research and Innovation to the Minister of State for Health, Dr. Lolade Adewale, said the government was expanding financial protection for cancer patients through targeted insurance schemes.

She said both 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 ongoing efforts to strengthen cancer insurance coverage.

Adewale also disclosed that Nigeria had commenced three immunotherapy clinical studies for the first time, giving patients access to advanced cancer medicines previously unavailable in the country.

According to her, drugs such as Nivolumab and Keytruda are now available through clinical trials at no cost to participating Nigerians, reducing the need for patients to travel abroad for treatment.

Meanwhile, Immediate Past President of AORTIC, Dr. Miriam Mutebi, called for increased investment in African-led cancer research, noting that the continent contributes only about eight per cent of global cancer research despite bearing a significant share of the disease burden.

She expressed concern over limited research on cervical and prostate cancers, which remain among the most common cancers affecting Africans.

Mutebi urged African governments to fulfil their commitment to allocate one per cent of Gross Domestic Product to research and development, saying stronger domestic investment would generate evidence needed to improve diagnosis, treatment outcomes and health systems.

Chief Medical Officer of ASCO, Dr. Julie Gralow, said many breakthrough cancer therapies had not been adequately tested among African populations, making local research essential for ensuring effective treatment.

She said the ASCO-AORTIC partnership focuses on workforce development, clinical research and training the next generation of African cancer researchers.

Gralow announced that the organisations would launch the second round of their Sub-Saharan Africa Clinical Research Scholars Programme in October.

Also, AORTIC Vice-President for North America, Dr. Abiola Ibraheem, said African countries should adopt a continental approach to improve access to innovative cancer therapies.

She noted that collaboration among African nations would strengthen their negotiating power and help bridge the gap between cancer care available in high-income countries and what is currently accessible across the continent.

“There is power in numbers. The goal is for African countries to access these therapies together as one continent rather than individually,” she said.

Ibraheem added that participation in the Best of ASCO Africa conference had grown significantly since its inaugural edition in Ethiopia, attracting more countries, sponsors and stakeholders committed to advancing cancer care across Africa.