Govt Can’t Fund Anti-Cancer Programmes Alone, Says Ex-Health Minister

NIGERIAN former Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu has said that the government cannot cope alone in a sustainable manner with funding cancer-related programmes, disclosing that another committee on the financing of cancer control and treatment in Nigeria in partnership with the private sector has been set up to begin work immediately.

Chukwu who was the chairman of the 7th International Cancer Week in Abuja said: “Universal health coverage, prioritizing cancer in government budgets, implementation of the National Health Act, establishment of a trust fund into which taxes, corporate and personal donations, will all help to fight cancer.”

He said that the Federal Ministry of Health should immediately set up a committee to review the National Cancer Policy and Plan with emphasis on the implementation plan and the funding mechanism.