Boost for prostrate cancer patients as NHIF covers access to key drug

The National Health and Insurance Funds (NHIF) has added Zytiga (Abiraterone), a prostrate cancer drug that costs approximately Sh100,000 to the scheme.

This comes after a partnership with Janssen Pharmaceuticals, of Johnson & Johnson  Company, a specialist oncology pharmaceutical solutions provider.

The innovative drug used for the treatment of advanced prostrate cancer will be available to NHIF members.

Prostrate cancer is the leading malignancy in men in the country with over 1000 new reported cases yearly and about 850 deaths as per surveillance report in 2015.

This comes as the scheme plans to replace oncology cover with cancer care that will pay for the entire treatment and care for cancer patients with NHIF.

Currently the NHIF covers six sessions for the first line treatment for up to Sh25,000 per session, four sessions for the second and third line treatment for up to Sh150,000 per session and 20 sessions of radiotherapy at Sh3,600 per session.

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In the year 2017/2018, NHIF paid Sh1.36 billion towards cancer treatment against Sh1.23 billion in the previous financial year recording an 11 percent increment.

According to NHIF Claims and Benefits manager Judy Otele healthcare providers should review and reduce the cost of radio therapy interventions and cancer management at large.

“There’s need to lobby all stakeholders including the government, investors, suppliers among others to make cancer care accessible and affordable through public-private partnerships (PPPs),” said Ms Otele.

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The Janssen Kenya Prostrate Cancer Program through the PPPs is focused at enhancing access for patients with advanced prostrate cancer by getting more patients diagnosed and treated earlier while providing treatment with Zytiga to the sick people who are also NHIF members.

Speaking during the launch of the joint partnership Janssen Pharmaceuticals Director of Global Business Institutions Craig Winters said that enhancing treatment of metastatic castrate resistant prostate cancer with Zytiga (Abiraterone) will facilitate a positive impact on the lives of patients with advanced prostate cancer.

“The partnership will provide a financial relief as paying for cancer treatment is a challenge to many developing countries asa result, many cancer drugs remain out of reach for a majority of patients,” said Mr Winters.

Zytiga reduces the production of testosterone and is in the front-line therapy for late-stage, castration-resistant prostate cancer. It has been approved only after use of a chemotherapy drug.