Roche Launches Free Breast Cancer Testing Initiative to Boost Diagnosis in Nigeria

By Ojoma Akor

Global healthcare company Roche has launched a nationwide initiative offering free immunohistochemistry (IHC) testing to breast cancer patients in Nigeria.

Roche said the move is aimed at improving accurate diagnosis and ensuring patients receive the most appropriate treatment.

The initiative, known as CareLink, will provide zero-cost IHC testing to every Nigerian diagnosed with breast cancer, addressing one of the country’s biggest challenges in cancer care—limited access to affordable diagnostic testing.

The initiative seeks to eliminate financial barriers that prevent many patients from undergoing biomarker testing before starting treatment, a gap that often results in inappropriate therapies and poorer health outcomes.

According to the company, more than 30 percent of breast cancer patients in Nigeria begin treatment without knowing the specific subtype of their cancer because immunohistochemistry testing is either unavailable or unaffordable.

Immunohistochemistry is a laboratory test used to identify the biological characteristics of breast cancer, enabling doctors to determine the most effective treatment for each patient. Without the test, patients risk receiving therapies that may not be appropriate for their cancer subtype.

The CareLink program is currently being piloted at the National Hospital, Abuja, and the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals Complex (OAUTHC), Ile-Ife, both of which are equipped with automated high-throughput IHC testing facilities.

Roche said participating laboratories will provide results within seven working days, while National Hospital Abuja is already returning results within three to five working days.

To expand access nationwide, healthcare supply chain company DrugStoc will coordinate patient enrolment and the transport of tissue samples from referring hospitals to testing hubs, enabling patients nationwide to benefit from the service.

Acting General Manager of Roche Nigeria, Dr. Bola Oyedeji, said the initiative combines improved access to diagnostics with treatment support to improve survival outcomes for women diagnosed with breast cancer.

“By combining life-changing diagnostics and medicines, we’re tackling the heavy burden cancer places on patients, families and healthcare systems. Patient experiences drive everything we do, and our goal in Nigeria is clear: to transform care so that four out of five women survive five years after a breast cancer diagnosis,” she said.

The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Pate, who was represented by Dr. Uchechukwu Nwokwu, the National Coordinator of the National Cancer Control and Nuclear Medicine Program, described the initiative as an example of effective public-private collaboration in cancer care.

He said Roche’s efforts complement the Federal Government’s commitment to improving oncology services and ensuring that life-saving innovations reach patients across the country.

Also speaking, Deputy Director of Accreditation, Standards and Quality Assurance at the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), Dr. Adebimpe Afolarin, said incorporating immunohistochemistry into Nigeria’s essential diagnostics list marks a major milestone in expanding access to precision medicine.

She enjoined Nigerians to enroll in social health insurance to benefit from the program and other cancer care interventions.

The Director of Clinical Services at the National Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment (NICRAT), Prof. Musa Ali-Gombe, said precision medicine depends on accurate diagnosis, noting that improved access to biomarker testing would help raise breast cancer survival rates in Nigeria.

Also, Executive Director of Project PINK BLUE, Runcie Chidebe, said expanding access to immunohistochemistry addresses one of the root causes of poor cancer outcomes.

“If diagnostics are wrong or not done properly, then treatment outcomes will be poor,” he said.

Chairman of the Oncology Pharmacy Practitioners Association of Nigeria (OPPAN), Okwesileze Ijeoma, welcomed the initiative, saying that breast cancer patients had already expressed excitement about the program and pledged the association’s support to ensure its success.

Roche said the next phase of the CareLink initiative will focus on nationwide awareness campaigns, engagement with surgeons and healthcare professionals, and public education on the importance of biomarker testing in breast cancer management.

The initiative also aligns with NHIA. Following advocacy linked to the project, immunohistochemistry has now been included on the country’s National Essential In-Vitro Diagnostics List, allowing eligible NHIA beneficiaries to access the service without additional registration.

Beyond diagnostics, Roche said it continues to implement a cost-sharing agreement with the NHIA for breast cancer medicines, under which Roche covers 50 percent of treatment costs, and the NHIA finances 30 percent through health maintenance organizations. In comparison, patients pay the remaining 20 percent.