Government hospitals charge N12,000 for dialysis
…FG urges patients with kidney problems to take advantage
CITIZENS COMPASS—Some federal government hospitals in Nigeria are currently running a pilot scheme of dialysis sessions at the rate of N12,000.
This is to encourage some patients to overcome kidney challenges which are sapping many families.
Averagely, a dialysis session attracts a minimum of N150,000 in some hospitals but with the pilot scheme, patients are expected to pay N12,000.
The subsidised rate by the Federal Government is to debunk some media reports suggesting that patients in the Northwest have been left out of its kidney dialysis subsidy programme.
The Federal Government disclosed this yesterday, in a statement issued by Alaba Balogun, Deputy Director and Head of Information & Public Relations, Ministry of Health and Social Welfare who said that the initiative is already being piloted in 11 federal tertiary hospitals across the country.
He noted that the subsidy scheme has slashed the cost of dialysis sessions from ₦50,000 to ₦12,000.
According to Balogun, the programme is part of President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda aimed at easing the financial burden on Nigerians battling kidney-related illnesses while improving access to universal health care.
Hospitals currently covered under the subsidy scheme include:
Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital,
University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital,Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital and
University of Jos Teaching Hospital.
Others are National Hospital, Abuja, Federal Medical Centre, Ebute Metta, University College Hospital, Ibadan, University of Benin Teaching Hospital and Federal Medical Centre, Yenagoa.
Similarly, Federal Teaching Hospital, Owerri and Federal Medical Centre, Abakalikiare among the hospitals running the piloscheme.
Balogun emphasised that the Northwest region is not excluded from the programme, adding that the government plans to expand the subsidy to more federal health facilities nationwide in the coming phases.
“The Ministry emphasises that the Northwest is not excluded. This pilot phase will be expanded to cover more federal hospitals across the country in due course, ensuring that no Nigerian is left behind in accessing life-saving dialysis services,” the statement read.
