President Bola Tinubu has approved a subsidy on kidney dialysis, significantly lowering the cost for Nigerians from N50,000 to N12,000. The initiative, aimed at easing the financial burden on patients, is being implemented across the six geopolitical zones at select federal medical institutions.
Among the participating institutions are the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) Ebute-Metta, Lagos; FMC Jabi, Abuja; University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan; FMC Owerri; and the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH), Maiduguri. Others include FMC Abeokuta, Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), FMC Azare, University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH), and University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH).
The subsidy was officially launched in January at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital, Bauchi. Speaking on the impact of the initiative, Hammatu Haruna, manager-in-charge of the hospital’s renal centre, noted the positive reception from patients.
“They are paying only N12,000, and our patients are very happy with this initiative. We have seen remarkable improvement in their condition,” she said.
Haruna highlighted the financial struggles many patients previously faced in affording dialysis.
“Patients used to find it difficult to afford it; even if you tell them the amount, they have to go back and sell something before they can afford to come for dialysis. Some even prefer to stay at home since they cannot afford it,” she added.
Since its launch on January 8, the programme has benefitted 35 patients, with the federal ministry of health ensuring adequate resources for its success.
“We appreciate the federal government of Nigeria. They gave us one dialysis machine and over 900 dialysers. We have almost everything at hand,” Haruna said.
Meanwhile, a rise in kidney failure cases has sparked concern, with the Yobe State government deploying 50 health experts to investigate possible causes.
Mahmud Maina, director of the Biomedical Science Research and Training Centre at Yobe State University, said the team comprises neurology consultants, laboratory scientists, nephrologists, geologists, chemists, and eco-toxicologists, alongside international collaborators from the UK, US, and Ghana.
According to Maina, the team will interview 2,000 residents in Bade and Damaturu LGAs to determine whether the surge in cases is linked to environmental factors, lifestyle habits, or genetic predisposition.
