The Federal Government has reduced the cost of renal dialysis by 20% for kidney patients at key federal hospitals in eight states, including the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) Ebute-Metta, Lagos; the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan; FMC Owerri; and the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH).
This move is part of President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda aimed at improving healthcare access across Nigeria.
The announcement was made on Sunday by the Chief Medical Director of FMC Ebute-Metta, Dr. Adedamola Dada, and the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, who previously served as the Minister of State for Health.
Dr. Dada shared the news via a post on social media, explaining that the subsidized dialysis services, offered at 20% of the usual cost, are now available at FMC Ebute-Metta and other key hospitals nationwide.
He emphasized that the program is part of the government’s effort to make life-saving medical treatments more affordable.
In response, Dr. Alausa further highlighted the list of participating hospitals, including UCH Ibadan, FMC Owerri, UMTH Maiduguri, FMC Abeokuta, Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), FMC Azare, University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH), and University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH).
The subsidy on renal dialysis treatment, which is vital for patients with kidney failure, is expected to alleviate the financial burden on many Nigerians who require the treatment.
Kidney dialysis is a crucial procedure that helps remove waste and excess fluid from the blood when the kidneys can no longer perform these functions.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has recently stressed the global challenge of kidney failure, especially in low- and middle-income countries where the demand for expensive kidney replacement therapies outpaces healthcare system capacities.
The WHO noted that kidney failure is often preventable through managing risk factors such as hypertension and diabetes, and timely treatment of chronic kidney disease.
With this move, the Federal Government hopes to address the growing demand for renal care and improve overall health outcomes for Nigerians affected by kidney diseases.