Healthcare: Tinubu approves subsidy for kidney dialysis treatment in public hospitals (See Lists)

*Daniel Bwala, a Spokesperson to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, reveals the healthcare subsidy is to provide the needed relief to several Nigerians battling kidney-related diseases, and it is being implemented in batches in major Federal Government hospitals across the six geopolitical zones in the country

Isola Moses | ConsumerConnect

In a move to offer the needed relief to several Nigerians battling kidney-related diseases, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved a price reduction of each kidney dialysis session for affected patients from N50,000 to N12,000.

Daniel Bwala, a Spokesperson to President Tinubu, stated this Monday, August 18, 2025, via his verified X handle.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR

ConsumerConnect reports Bwala said the development, which first would start in 10 public hospitals, would provide relief to thousands of Nigerians battling kidney-related diseases, many of whom cannot pay for the dialysis.

The Presidential aide also noted that the subsidy is being implemented in major Federal hospitals across the six geopolitical zones.

First set of Federal hospitals for treatment of kidney-related diseases

Underscoring the objective of the healthcare initiative, Bwala also emphasised the subsidy for Nigerians battling kidney-related diseases has been well-received by patients, as many have expressed satisfaction with the reduced costs.

He noted the first set of hospitals include the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Ebute-Metta, Lagos, Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Jabi, Abuja, University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Owerri and the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH), Maiduguri.

Others are the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Abeokuta, Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Lagos, Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Azare, University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH), Benin, and University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH), Calabar.

He assured Nigerians that more Federal Medical Centres and teaching hospitals would be added before the end of the year to widen access to the healthcare programme across the country.

Kidney diseases and treatment in Nigeria

Health experts have reported growing prevalence of kidney diseases in Nigeria, owing to the consumption of contaminated foods, synthetic products and the influx of fake drugs, according to health experts.

Dialysis though avaliable in Nigeria, its accessibility and affordability are major challenges. While hemodialysis is the most common type of renal replacement therapy, it’s very expensive, according to report.

Over 24 million Nigerians are reportedly living with kidney-related diseases.

It was also gathered that a single session could cost between N30,000 and N50,000, and patients often need multiple sessions per week.

Likewise, a recent report was said to have indicated that West Africans have a high risk of kidney diseases.

It is also noted that chronic kidney disease is a progressive condition that reduces kidney function, that is its ability to filter waste from the blood.

Kidney disease often has no symptoms in its early stages, and can easily go undetected in most people until it is in its advanced stages.

In its advanced stage, an individual can develop kidney failure and require dialysis or a kidney transplant to live, a report explained.

A CKD patient, at this stage, is said to lose 85-90 percent of their kidney function; not enough to keep the person alive, without medical intervention.

Without the kidneys playing their vital role, substances that should otherwise be filtered, build up in the body. This makes the person severely ill.

Patients suffering from kidney diseases usually exhibit symptoms such as frequent or infrequent urination; shortness of breath, swelling in feet and ankles, muscle cramps, nausea and vomiting.

Once these symptoms have been observed, there is a need for dialysis or a kidney transplant to live, experts noted.

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