In a move cancer patients have been praying for, the National Health Insurance Authority has scrapped the ₦400,000 ceiling on radiotherapy and wiped out the 50:50 cost-sharing rule that left many families stranded mid-treatment.
Announced on Wednesday via its LinkedIn page, the reform is part of NHIA’s strategic purchasing push to cut financial barriers and expand access to specialist cancer care under the national health insurance scheme.
It means cancer patients on the national insurance scheme will now get full treatment without the 50:50 top-up that forced many to quit mid-way.
Announced on Wednesday, the reform immediately replaces the old flat limit with prices that reflect the real cost of treating different cancers. For families who have had to choose between completing care and paying rent, it’s a major shift.
The Old ₦400,000 Wall Comes Down
For years that cap was the ceiling, and the 50:50 cost-sharing was the trap. Patients would start radiotherapy, hit the limit, then scramble for cash or stop treatment.
NHIA says that ends now. HMOs, accredited hospitals and radiotherapy centres must comply immediately. The Authority calls it part of its strategic purchasing reforms to protect enrollees financially and guarantee continuous care.
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The New Price List, By Cancer Type
Here’s what radiotherapy will cost under insurance:
- ₦900,000 for breast, rectum, anal, cervix/uterus, soft tissue and bone cancers
- ₦1 million for prostate and spine cancers
- ₦1.1 million for primary brain, lung, oesophageal and stomach cancers
- ₦1.2 million for head and neck cancers
- ₦850,000 for metastatic cancers
NHIA says the rates are tied to treatment protocols, so centres can deliver full doses without asking patients for extra payments.
Why It Matters For Access
The Authority says the goal is simple: remove financial roadblocks and keep patients in treatment. It also positions the change as a step toward Universal Health Coverage, especially for Nigerians needing specialized cancer care.
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With the cap gone, the decision now rests with clinicians, not with a family’s bank balance.
