Lawmakers have called for urgent government intervention to ease the financial burden on cancer patients through free screening and subsidised care.
PUNCH
The House of Representatives has urged the Federal Government to offer free screening and subsidised treatment for cancer patients across Nigeria. The resolution followed a motion moved by Aderemi Oseni (APC, Oyo), during Wednesday’s plenary session.
Oseni described cancer as a growing public health crisis, noting that about 125,000 Nigerians were diagnosed in 2020 alone. He said, “The scourge of cancer is fast spreading amongst Nigerians… The most common types of cancer are breast, prostate, and cervical cancer.”
Highlighting the financial strain, Oseni added, “The House is worried that the costs of cancer treatment vary from tens of millions of naira… depending on the type of cancer, stage, treatment methods, location, and health history.”
The House expressed concern over poor access to cancer drugs and equipment, and the perception of cancer as a “death sentence” for the poor.
It mandated its Health Committee to work with the Ministry of Health to ensure funding for care, more treatment centres, and increased access to radiotherapy.