In a move that aims to bring hope to Nigerians, the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) and Roche Products Nigeria Limited have concluded arrangements to partner on Cancer Care Reimbursement initiative.
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The foremost health insurance agency and leading drug maker signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) at the NHIS headquarters in Abuja.
The document outlines key areas of partnership between the two organizations along three main themes that will significantly improve patients’ access to innovative cancer medicines.
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.
The MoU will ensure affordability of the drugs for patients at the treatment centers.
The partnership will also enable both healthcare institutions to engage in capacity building initiatives that are designed to support the health insurance ecosystem.
The two agencies will work assiduously to accelerate the drive towards the attainment of Universal Health Coverage (UHC) in Nigeria.
Speaking at the event, General Manager, Roche Products Ltd., Nigeria, Dr Ladi Hammeed described the partnership as “a significant and commendable milestone for cancer care in Nigeria, expressing the optimism that cancer patients will no longer have to deal with the catastrophic consequences of the diagnosis of the disease.
He noted that funding for early treatment, comprehensive care inclusive of surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy and targeted therapy improve treatment outcomes and ultimately the survival of the diagnosed patients”.
Also speaking at the occasion the Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer of NHIS Prof Mohammed Sambo stated that the Scheme puts an invaluable premium on strategic stakeholders’ in the execution of its mandate to bring affordable and quality healthcare to all Nigerians, adding that the implementation of its ten-year strategic plan was on course.
He noted that the ongoing reforms in the Scheme has as its central objective the making healthcare affordable in Nigeria.
Adding that the initiative was to ensure that drugs were available and affordable and receiving favourable attention.
NHIS is Nigeria’s foremost health insurance implementing agency while Roche is a leading biotech company, with differentiated and innovative medicines in various disease areas, including oncology, immunology, infectious diseases, ophthalmology and the central nervous system.
The partnership will be piloted in designated centers across the six geopolitical zones of Nigeria.
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