FG: North-west not excluded from kidney dialysis subsidy

The federal government has denied claims that the north-west region was excluded from its kidney dialysis subsidy programme.

Earlier this year, President Bola Tinubu approved a subsidy on kidney dialysis for Nigerians, reducing the cost from N50,000 to N12,000.

The subsidy is being implemented across the six geopolitical zones at some federal medical institutions.

In a statement on Wednesday, Alaba Balogun, deputy director and head of information and public relations at the federal ministry of health, said there have been reports suggesting that patients in the north-west are excluded from the dialysis subsidy programme.

Balogun said the information is “incorrect”, adding that the programme is part of the government’s efforts to expand access to universal health coverage and provide relief for vulnerable Nigerians.

He said the scheme’s pilot phase is currently being implemented in 11 federal tertiary health institutions across all geopolitical zones, including the north-west.

The director listed the hospitals as 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, Federal Medical Centre Yenagoa, Federal Teaching Hospital Owerri, and Federal Medical Centre Abakaliki.

“The ministry emphasises that the north-west is not excluded,” the statement reads.

“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.”