The Federal Government has approved N12, 000 as cost for dialysis under the Kidney Dialysis Subsidy scheme, against the previous N50,000.
Mr Alaba Balogun, the Deputy Director/Head, Information and Public Relations, Ministry of Health and Social Welfare said the policy will ease the cost of the treatment for patients, save lives and reduce both physical and financial suffering, especially amongst vulnerable Nigerians.
“This intervention is a deliberate initiative of the present administrtion to bring relief to patients with kidney related diseases and expand access to Universal Health Coverage,” he said.
He noted that implementation of the pilot scheme was already ongoing in 11 Federal Tertiary Health institutions across the geo-political zones of the country and, would be expanded in due time.
The hospitals are Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital, University of Jos Teaching Hospital, National Hospital, Abuja and Federal Medical Centre, Ebute Metta, Lagos.
Others are University College Hospital, Ibadan, University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Federal Medical Centre, Yenagoa, Federal Teaching Hospital, Owerri and Federal Medical Centre, Abakaliki.
Balogun also noted that the Federal Government has not excluded the Northwestern states in the dialysis subsidy, and was committed to ensuring that no Nigerian was left behind in accessing healthcare services across the country under its renewed hope agenda.
He added that more federal hospitals would be added to the safety net to widen access for the subsidised dialysis sessions.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the Federal Government in 2024 initiated a programme to significantly reduce the cost of kidney dialysis by 80 per cent in selected federal tertiary health institutions.
The prevalence of kidney disease in Nigeria is a significant public health concern, with estimates ranging from 1.6% to 26%. A recent nationwide screening during World Kidney Day 2022 reported a pooled prevalence of kidney dysfunction at 13.7%, according to a YouTube video by Dr. Olajide Oluwatayo. Chronic kidney disease is particularly concerning, with some studies reporting prevalence rates as high as 26%.
Several factors contribute to the high prevalence of kidney disease in Nigeria including hypertension and diabetes.
(NAN)
