By John Umeh
The Federal Government has announced a major reduction in the cost of kidney dialysis in federal hospitals, cutting the price of the life-saving procedure by 76 percent.
Under the new policy approved by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, patients will now pay ₦12,000 per dialysis session, down from the previous average cost of ₦50,000.
The development was confirmed on Monday in a statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Policy Communication, Daniel Bwala, who said the intervention would provide immediate relief to thousands of Nigerians battling kidney disease. Most patients undergoing dialysis require multiple sessions every week, making the treatment unaffordable for many families.
“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved a landmark subsidy to ease the financial burden on citizens. With this directive, the cost of each dialysis session has been reduced to ₦12,000 in federal hospitals across the country,” Bwala said.
According to him, the subsidised rate has already taken effect in 10 major federal medical centres and teaching hospitals spread across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones. These include:
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Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Ebute-Metta, Lagos
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Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Jabi, Abuja
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University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan
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Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Owerri
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University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH), Maiduguri
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Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Abeokuta
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Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Lagos
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Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Azare
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University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH), Benin
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University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH), Calabar
Bwala added that more hospitals will be included before the end of the year to expand access nationwide.
The presidential aide also recalled that in 2024, President Tinubu approved free caesarean sections (C-sections) for pregnant women in federal hospitals as part of efforts to strengthen maternal and child healthcare.
“These measures are a demonstration of the President’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which ensures that no Nigerian is denied access to essential healthcare because of cost,” Bwala said.
Health experts and advocacy groups have welcomed the move, noting that the high cost of dialysis has been one of the biggest obstacles facing kidney patients in Nigeria.
