Mr Olalekan Falode, the Osun State Coordinator of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), has said that Health insurance is now mandatory in Nigeria. So everybody needs to get health insurance in Nigeria.
Falode made this known during the sensitisation on the Engagement and the Pre-Implementation of NHIA-Roche Oncology Cost Sharing Initiative Programme at the Small Auditorium, Phase 1V, OAUTHC, on Friday, in Ile-Ife.
He expressed that the sharing initiative for cancer patients is where the Roche company pays part of the cost of the value of the drug, adding that Roche pays 50%, NHIS pays 30% and the patient pays 20%, but the benefits are meant for NHIS-registered patients.
The State Coordinator encouraged those who are unregistered to join NHIS, adding that as they are joining, even before their name comes out, they're already entitled to 50% of the value of the drug with Roche's payment.
"And immediately your name comes out, 30% will be paid by the NHIA, while the patient pays 20%.
"Health insurance is now mandatory in Nigeria. So everybody needs to get health insurance in Nigeria. It is only that we are implementing it gradually.
"It is only advisable for Nigerians to make an enquiry about health insurance. Cancer is not a disease anyone can pay for, even if you are rich.
"It takes so much money from your pocket. So the only way to combat cancer is to get those who are going to pay for the enrollees, and that is what we are doing". He stressed.
In the same vein, Mr Babarinde Olayode, the Secretary, Healthcare System Partner-Policy for Roche Nigeria, said that the company work through seven centres in all geopolitical zones.
Olayode stated that Roche currently expanded their programme to six geopolitical zones, dedicated to improving cancer care for patients to 24 centres of excellence for significant growth, in which OAUTHC Ife is one of the centres.
This includes more of our products, more centres where patients are able to access our medication at a cost-sharing formula.
In his response, Prof. John Okeniyi, the Chief Medical Director (CMD), Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital Complex (OAUTHC), has said that the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) and the Roche company have agreed to partner with the hospital on subsidising cancer drugs.
Okeniyi stated that the initiative started in 2021 with many diagnostic arms, where several teaching hospitals that are centres of excellence are now involved in Cancer diagnosis.
According to him, OAUTHC is a hub in this region that will provide such services with excellent histochemistry facilities, which are ongoing.
The CMD explained that the initiative will help people's drive for more NHIA enrolment, and the Roche company will sell all their medications that are available to the patients.
Okeniyi emphasised that this assists the hospital to follow up their care, for earlier, when there was no assistance, patients died because they couldn't afford the treatment.
The CMD cited this as an example of a Public-Private Partnership that is win-win for everybody.
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