Tinubu Slashes Dialysis Cost By 80%, Patients To Pay N12,000

Tinubu Slashes Dialysis Cost By 80%, Patients To Pay N12,000 By Session.
The programme, launched in January, is implemented across federal medical institutions.
Experts are investigating rising kidney failure cases, especially in Yobe State.

President Bola Tinubu has approved a subsidy on kidney dialysis for Nigerians, significantly reducing the cost from N50,000 to N12,000.

The subsidy is being implemented across the six geopolitical zones in selected federal medical institutions to improve access to life-saving treatment for kidney patients.

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EKO HOT BLOG reports that among the participating institutions are the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) Ebute-Metta, Lagos; Federal Medical Centre (FMC) Jabi, Abuja; University College Hospital (UCH) Ibadan; Federal Medical Centre (FMC) Owerri; and the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH) Maiduguri. Others include Federal Medical Centre (FMC) Abeokuta, Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) Lagos, Federal Medical Centre (FMC) Azare, University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) Benin, and the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH) Calabar.

The subsidy programme was officially launched in January at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital in Bauchi. According to Hammatu Haruna, the renal centre manager at the hospital, the initiative has brought relief to many patients struggling with the high cost of dialysis.

“They are now paying only N12,000, and our patients are very happy with this initiative. We have seen remarkable improvements in their conditions,” Haruna said.

She explained that, previously, many patients could not afford dialysis and had to sell belongings to raise funds, while some chose to stay at home rather than seek treatment. Since the programme’s launch on January 8, at least 35 patients have benefitted, with the federal health ministry ensuring adequate resources for its success.

“We appreciate the federal government of Nigeria. They provided us with one dialysis machine and over 900 dialysers, ensuring we have almost everything needed,” she added.

Meanwhile, concerns over rising kidney failure cases in Nigeria have intensified. In February, the Yobe State government deployed 50 health experts to investigate the surge in kidney-related illnesses in some parts of the state.

Mahmud Maina, director of the Biomedical Science Research and Training Centre at Yobe State University, said the team comprises specialists, including nephrologists, laboratory scientists, geologists, chemists, and toxicologists, with support from experts in the UK, US, and Ghana.

The team plans to conduct interviews with 2,000 residents in Bade and Damaturu Local Government Areas to determine whether the rising cases are linked to environmental, lifestyle, or genetic factors.