President Bola Tinubu has approved a significant reduction in the cost of kidney dialysis treatment in federal hospitals across Nigeria, cutting the price per session from N50,000 to N12,000. This move aims to alleviate the financial burden on thousands of Nigerians living with kidney-related illnesses who require frequent dialysis sessions to survive.
The presidential approval was announced by Daniel Bwala, Special Adviser to the President on Policy Communication, who disclosed the intervention via his verified X account. He stated, “With this intervention, the price of each dialysis session has been reduced from N50,000 to just N12,000, bringing relief to thousands of citizens battling kidney-related diseases.” The subsidy is already being implemented in major federal hospitals scattered across the country’s six geopolitical zones, including Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Ebute-Metta in Lagos, FMC Jabi in Abuja, University College Hospital (UCH) in Ibadan, and FMC Owerri.
Other hospitals benefiting from this subsidy include University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, FMC Abeokuta, Lagos University Teaching Hospital, FMC Azare, University of Benin Teaching Hospital, and the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital. Bwala further revealed plans to extend the subsidy to more federal medical centers and teaching hospitals before the end of the year, broadening access to affordable dialysis nationwide.
Kidney dialysis is an expensive and life-sustaining procedure for patients with renal failure, often requiring multiple sessions weekly. The previous cost of N50,000 per session was financially crippling, pushing many families into severe economic hardship. Medical experts have noted that this subsidy will significantly reduce out-of-pocket expenditure for these patients, making treatment accessible to a wider population.
A healthcare analyst, Dr. Amina Yusuf, praised the government’s initiative, stating, “This subsidy is a remarkable step in supporting patients with chronic kidney disease. It mitigates the catastrophic health expenditure many families face and could improve treatment adherence and outcomes.”
The subsidy forms part of President Tinubu’s broader healthcare reform agenda, which also includes recent measures like free caesarean sections in federal hospitals to improve maternal health. The government’s Renewed Hope Agenda aims to ensure that no Nigerian is denied critical healthcare due to cost.
This new dialysis subsidy policy marks a pivotal moment in Nigeria’s healthcare system, reflecting a commitment to reducing financial barriers to essential medical treatments. For kidney patients nationwide, this initiative offers renewed hope and improved quality of life.
Moving forward, the government plans to continue enhancing healthcare infrastructure and funding, ensuring sustained support for vulnerable patient groups. Nigerians are encouraged to access federal hospitals for dialysis treatment at the new subsidized rate as efforts continue to expand this support across the nation.
In summary, President Tinubu’s approval to slash dialysis costs to N12,000 per session is a landmark humanitarian effort that promises to ease the economic and health challenges faced by many Nigerians suffering from kidney disease, signaling stronger government intervention in public healthcare.
