Nigeria Needs 1,000 Radiotherapy Machines for Cancer Care

Dr Adebayo Oladeji, Head of the Department of Radiation Oncology at the University College Hospital (UCH) in Ibadan, stated that Nigeria needs a minimum of 1,000 radiotherapy machines to adequately treat cancer patients, yet the country has fewer than 20. This severe shortage limits access to essential cancer care, causing treatment delays even for those who can afford it.

Speaking on World Radiotherapy Day, Oladeji identified inadequate infrastructure, late presentation, and treatment costs as significant challenges in cancer care. He noted that international guidelines recommend one radiotherapy machine for every 200,000 people, indicating Nigeria's requirement given its population of over 200 million.

Many states, including Oyo, Osun, and Ogun, lack radiotherapy centers, forcing patients to travel to Lagos for treatment, which adds to their financial burden. Oladeji called for increased investment from both government and private sectors and acknowledged the Federal Government’s Cancer Aid Fund, while emphasizing that financial assistance is ineffective without available treatment facilities.

UCH is pursuing a public-private partnership to acquire a radiotherapy machine.