Health sector stakeholders and economic experts have called on the Federal Government of Nigeria to significantly expand the role of private sector players in the nation’s oncology framework. The move is aimed at bridging the massive deficit in cancer care, diagnosis, and treatment infrastructure, which currently weighs heavily on the country’s public health budget.
During a recent advocacy session, experts highlighted that while the government has made strides through the establishment of the National Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment (NICRAT), the sheer scale of the cancer burden in Nigeria exceeds the current capacity of public institutions. Nigeria records approximately 120,000 new cancer cases annually, with cervical, breast, and prostate cancers accounting for the highest mortality rates. The stakeholders argued that without a robust Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model, the goal of eliminating preventable cancers remains out of reach.
The push for deeper private sector involvement comes at a time when Nigeria is struggling to meet the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) 90-70-90 targets for cervical cancer elimination. These targets require 90% of girls to be vaccinated against HPV by age 15, 70% of women to be screened with a high-performance test, and 90% of women identified with cervical disease to receive treatment. For a country of over 200 million people, the diagnostic and radiotherapy equipment available in public hospitals is woefully inadequate to meet these requirements.
Investment in oncology is capital-intensive, requiring expensive medical hardware such as linear accelerators, PET scans, and MRI machines, alongside specialized personnel. Stakeholders noted that the private sector is better positioned to deploy the necessary capital and management expertise if the Federal Government provides the right regulatory incentives and financial guarantees. This includes tax rebates for medical equipment importers and a more streamlined licensing process for private oncology clinics.
Addressing the Infrastructure and Funding Gap
A primary bottleneck in Nigeria’s cancer fight is the lack of functional radiotherapy machines. At various points in the last decade, fewer than ten public radiotherapy machines were operational across the entire country, leading to long waiting lists and advanced-stage disease progression for patients. By incentivising private healthcare providers to set up regional diagnostic and treatment hubs, the government could decentralise care and reduce the pressure on tertiary teaching hospitals.
The economic impact of the cancer burden is also a major concern for the private sector. The loss of productivity due to premature death and the financial ruin of families paying for care out-of-pocket diminishes the national workforce. A report by BusinessDay suggests that the high cost of treatment often forces patients to abandon care, a trend that could be mitigated through expanded insurance coverage and private-led community health schemes.
Furthermore, the Federal Government’s Cancer Health Fund (CHF), which was designed to provide subsidized treatment for indigent patients, has faced implementation challenges, including bureaucratic delays and funding gaps. Stakeholders suggested that the private sector could assist in the management of such funds to ensure transparency and efficiency. By integrating private insurance providers into the CHF framework, the government could leverage their actuarial expertise to cover more patients with the same amount of public money.
The role of technology and pharmaceutical companies was also underscored. Nigeria currently imports the vast majority of its chemotherapy drugs and oncology consumables. Health experts urged the government to offer incentives for local manufacturing or public-private joint ventures in drug production. Such a move would not only reduce the cost of treatment by eliminating foreign exchange volatility but also create high-value jobs within the domestic pharmaceutical sector.
Looking ahead, the Federal Ministry of Health is expected to review the National Strategic Cancer Control Plan (NSCCP). Stakeholders are advocating for the new policy cycle to include clear milestones for private sector participation. This includes the implementation of a national screening programme powered by private laboratories and a structured referral system that links private primary care clinics to public oncology centres. The success of the HPV vaccine rollout earlier this year demonstrated the power of coordinated action, but sustaining that momentum will require a more commercially viable healthcare ecosystem.
Explore more Business stories and analysis from Business Elites Africa.
