Experts advocate improved investments in cancer care, research

Health experts, researchers and policymakers have called for increased investments in cancer research, local production of cancer medicines and stronger regional collaboration to improve access to quality cancer care in Nigeria and across Africa.

They made the call during a media session at the Best of ASCO Africa conference, organised by the African Organisation for Research and Training in Cancer (AORTIC) in collaboration with the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), where experts discussed strategies for adapting global cancer research findings to African realities.

Speaking at the session, the Director-General of the National Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment, Prof. Usman Malami Aliyu, said the conference was designed to translate cutting-edge discoveries presented at the ASCO Annual Meeting into practical solutions that address Nigeria’s healthcare needs.

He explained that while cancer treatment remains expensive worldwide, Nigeria is implementing measures to reduce the financial burden on patients through government-backed interventions.

According to him, the Federal Government has introduced a health fund to subsidise cancer diagnosis and treatment, while the National Cancer Health Fund is targeted at supporting indigent cancer patients who cannot afford treatment.

Aliyu also revealed that the government is pursuing initiatives to encourage local production of cancer medicines and vaccines, reducing dependence on costly imported therapies.

“We are looking at how to translate global research into actions in our clinics and ensure Nigerians benefit from the latest scientific breakthroughs,” he said.

Vice President, North America, of AORTIC, Dr Abiola Ibraheem, described the widening gap in cancer care between developed countries and Africa as a major concern.

Drawing from her experience practising in both the United States and Nigeria, she noted that many innovative cancer therapies and technologies available in high-income countries remain inaccessible across much of Africa.

She said the conference seeks to unite African countries to collectively improve access to life-saving therapies through stronger collaboration.

“There is power in numbers. We want African countries to work together so that access to modern cancer treatment becomes a continental priority rather than an individual country’s struggle,” she said.

Special Adviser on Research and Innovation to the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Lolade Adeyemi, disclosed that the Federal Government was working towards introducing specialised cancer insurance to improve access to treatment.

She also announced that Nigeria is currently conducting three immunotherapy clinical trials for the first time, making globally recognised drugs such as nivolumab and pembrolizumab available within the country through research programmes.

According to her, the development represents a significant milestone in Nigeria’s cancer treatment landscape and demonstrates the country’s growing capacity to conduct world-class clinical research.

Chair of the conference and immediate past President of AORTIC, Dr Miriam Mutebi, said Africa currently contributes only about eight per cent of global cancer research despite carrying a growing cancer burden.

She attributed the low research output largely to inadequate domestic funding and urged African governments to fulfil their commitment to dedicate one per cent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) to research and development.

Mutebi stressed that more locally driven research is needed to understand why many African cancer patients present late for treatment and often fail to complete their care.

Chief Medical Officer of ASCO, Dr Julie Gralow, said the partnership between ASCO and AORTIC is helping build Africa’s capacity for clinical research while ensuring new cancer treatments are evaluated within African populations.

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