The House of Representatives has asked federal government to subsidise the cost of cancer treatment and make cancer screening services free for all Nigerians.
Gatekeepers News reports that during plenary on Wednesday, the lawmakers also urged the government to establish more treatment centres across the country and increase the availability of radiotherapy machines.
The resolution followed the adoption of a motion sponsored by Aderemi Oseni, a representative from Oyo State.
While presenting the motion, Oseni cited a statement by World Health Organisation (WHO) director-general, Tedros Ghebreyesus, who revealed that at least 40 people are diagnosed with cancer globally every minute. He stressed that ensuring citizens’ health and well-being is a responsibility of government.
He noted that cancer remains a significant public health challenge in Nigeria, with over 125,000 cases reported in 2020 alone, adding that the most prevalent types include breast, cervical, and prostate cancers.
Oseni continued, “Costs of cancer treatment vary from tens of millions of naira to hundreds of thousands of dollars per year, depending on the type of cancer, stage of the disease, treatment methods, location, and individual health history.”
According to him; cancer patients are facing financial difficulties due to the complex and expensive supply chain for cancer medications and limited availability of radiation therapy machines, leaving some with the view that cancer is an illness for the wealthy or a death sentence.
He added, “But that is no longer the case as both the poor and the rich are caught by the menace in most cases.”
“The rising burden of cancer is causing a shortage of funding for cancer control services, with public financing being considered the most appropriate, sustainable and equitable solution to fund that aspect of health care to ameliorate the suffering of patients with cancer.”
The lawmaker said the government must intervene urgently by subsidising cancer treatment and drugs for indigent patients in Nigeria.
The motion was adopted when it was put to a voice vote by Tajudeen Abbas, speaker of the house.
