Breast cancer caused more than $10 billion in lost productivity across seven African countries between 2017 and 2023, according to an analysis presented at Africa Press Day 2026 in Nairobi, hosted by Roche.
The study by the WifOR Institute focused on HER2-positive breast cancer, an aggressive form that accounts for up to 20 percent of cases in Africa. The deaths analyzed were recorded in Algeria, Côte d’Ivoire, Kenya, Morocco, Nigeria, South Africa, and Tunisia.
Nearly 90 percent of the losses involved women in their most productive years. The analysis also found that every dollar invested in innovative cancer treatments could generate up to $12.40 in economic returns by restoring productivity.
Speakers at the event stressed the importance of early screening and stronger health systems, noting that about 77 percent of breast cancer cases in Africa are diagnosed at advanced stages, making treatment more difficult and costly.
