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The Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH) has partnered with pharmaceutical company Roche to provide subsidised cancer medication to patients. This announcement was made during a sensitisation programme on the engagement and pre-implementation of the NHIA-Roche Oncology Cost-Sharing Initiative held on Monday in Jos.
Speaking at the event, Pokop Bupwatda, the Chief Medical Director of JUTH, represented Njem Josiah, stated that the hospital is collaborating with the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) and Roche under a public-private partnership to offer affordable cancer treatment.
He explained that the partnership aims to ease the financial burden of cancer care on patients and encourage greater enrolment in the NHIA.
According to Bupwatda, the initiative is expected to boost interest in NHIA enrolment and will enable Roche to make its full range of medications available to patients.
He noted that many cancer patients in the past were unable to afford treatment, which led to increased mortality. The collaboration, he said, would enable early intervention and better follow-up for patients.
Also speaking at the event, Terseer Sar, Head of Access and Policy at Roche, revealed that Roche currently operates through seven centres across all geopolitical zones and now works with 24 centres nationwide, including JUTH. He said the aim is to ensure more patients can access Roche medications through a cost-sharing model.
“Roche will cover 50 percent of the drug cost, NHIA will contribute 30 percent, and patients will bear the remaining 20 percent”.
He stressed that this scheme is available only to NHIA registered patients. He further emphasised that cancer is a financially draining disease, even for the wealthy, and that such collaborative models are the only sustainable solution.
“Once a patient is selected, 30 percent of the treatment cost is covered by NHIA, while the patient pays 20 percent”.
He urged more Nigerians to enrol in the NHIA, noting that doing so would allow them access to significant drug subsidies made possible by the partnership.
In her remarks, Simi Pwajok, Coordinator of the Plateau State Office of NHIA, reiterated the agency’s commitment to partnering with organisations like Roche to make cancer treatment and chemotherapy more accessible and affordable.
She expressed satisfaction that Roche has extended its support to JUTH, describing the move as laudable and of great benefit to the hospital and its patients.
