In a major step to ease the financial burden of Nigerians battling kidney-related illnesses, the Federal Government has approved a sharp reduction in the cost of dialysis sessions under the Kidney Dialysis Subsidy Scheme, pegging the new rate at N12,000 per session as against the previous N50,000.
The announcement was made on Wednesday in Abuja by Mr. Alaba Balogun, Deputy Director and Head of Information and Public Relations at the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare.
Balogun explained that the decision was part of the government’s ongoing health sector reforms aimed at expanding access to lifesaving treatment and reducing the out-of-pocket expenses that often push patients and their families into financial distress.
“This intervention is a deliberate initiative of the present administration to bring relief to patients with kidney-related diseases and expand access to Universal Health Coverage,” he said.
“By subsidising dialysis, the government is not only saving lives but also reducing the physical and financial suffering of vulnerable Nigerians.”
The pilot phase of the programme is already underway in 11 federal tertiary hospitals strategically located across the six geo-political zones. They include:
Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano
University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, Maiduguri
Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital, Bauchi
University of Jos Teaching Hospital, Jos
National Hospital, Abuja
Federal Medical Centre, Ebute Metta, Lagos
University College Hospital, Ibadan
University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin City
Federal Medical Centre, Yenagoa
Federal Teaching Hospital, Owerri
Federal Medical Centre, Abakaliki
Balogun assured Nigerians that no region will be excluded, clarifying that the North-West and other zones are covered under the scheme, with more federal hospitals expected to join as the programme expands.
The Federal Government first announced its intention to cut dialysis costs in 2024, with a plan to reduce charges by 80 per cent across selected federal institutions. The approval of the new N12,000 rate represents the official implementation of that promise.
For many Nigerians living with kidney failure — a condition that requires dialysis multiple times a week — the previous cost of N50,000 per session was unaffordable, forcing some patients to skip life-saving treatments. The subsidy is therefore seen as a critical lifeline that could prevent needless deaths.
Balogun stressed that the subsidy aligns with the government’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which places emphasis on strengthening healthcare systems, reducing health inequalities, and ensuring that “no Nigerian is left behind” in accessing affordable care.
He further noted that the intervention will not only reduce mortality rates linked to kidney disease but also improve trust in the public healthcare system, which has long been criticised for being inaccessible to the poor.