Patients in Kano State have commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for reducing the cost of kidney dialysis from about ₦50,000 to ₦12,000 per session under the Federal Government’s new health subsidy scheme.
The intervention, part of Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, represents about 80 per cent subsidy and is designed to make treatment for kidney-related diseases more affordable for Nigerians.
The subsidised dialysis is currently available in 11 federal tertiary hospitals across the country, including the Federal Medical Centres (FMCs) in Ebute-Metta, Jabi, Owerri, Abeokuta and Azare; the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan; Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH); University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH); University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH); University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH); and the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital (ATBUTH), Bauchi.
At the Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital (AKTH), the new dialysis cost has led to a sharp rise in patient attendance.
The Deputy Director of Nursing Services and Head of the Dialysis Unit, Mr Tijjani Rahim, said the hospital now treats between 22 and 25 patients daily since the subsidy took effect.
He noted that the Federal Government’s intervention had brought relief to many patients who previously struggled to afford treatment.
During a visit to the AKTH Dialysis Centre, several patients expressed gratitude to President Tinubu, describing the initiative as a life-saving measure.
One of them, Malam Sani Musa, said he used to pay between ₦54,000 and ₦60,000 per session before the subsidy.
Another patient, Mamuda Aliyu, said the reduction to ₦12,000 had enabled him to continue treatment, while Malama Hafiza Isa recalled that the price had gradually dropped from ₦60,000 to ₦20,000 and now ₦12,000.
The patients, however, appealed to the Federal Government to consider making dialysis treatment completely free to further ease their burden.
The Chief Medical Director of AKTH, Prof. Abdurrahman Sheshe, confirmed that the subsidised dialysis had commenced at the hospital. He said consumables for about 1,000 dialysis sessions had been provided by the Federal Government.
He made the disclosure during the launch of the National Emergency Medical Services and Ambulance Scheme (NEMSAS) at the hospital, which offers 48 hours of free emergency treatment and transport for pregnant women, children, accident victims, and other critical cases.
Prof. Sheshe urged the Federal Ministry of Health and philanthropists to support the initiative to ensure its sustainability.
The dialysis subsidy, approved on August 21, 2025, forms part of the Federal Government’s broader health sector reforms, which also include the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) and the NEMSAS scheme — all aimed at strengthening healthcare delivery and reducing financial hardship for citizens.
NAN