The Federal Government has significantly reduced the cost of kidney dialysis in public hospitals across Nigeria, lowering the price of each session by 76 percent. This decision, recently approved by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, brings the average cost of a dialysis session down from ₦50,000 to just ₦12,000.
Daniel Bwala, Special Adviser to the President on Policy Communication, disclosed the development on Monday, describing it as a major step toward easing the financial burden on Nigerians living with kidney disease. He noted that the high frequency of dialysis treatments often required several times per week has made the cost unbearable for many patients. The new subsidy is designed to provide immediate relief.
According to Bwala, the new pricing structure is already in effect at ten federal medical centres and teaching hospitals across all six geopolitical zones of the country. These include institutions in Lagos, Abuja, Ibadan, Owerri, Maiduguri, Abeokuta, Azare, Benin, and Calabar. He added that more facilities will be included in the scheme before the end of the year to improve national coverage and access.
This initiative follows a similar healthcare policy introduced last year, when President Tinubu approved free cesarean section procedures in federal hospitals. That move was aimed at improving maternal health and reducing the number of preventable deaths during childbirth.
Bwala emphasized that these interventions are part of the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritizes access to affordable healthcare for all Nigerians. He reiterated that no citizen should be denied life-saving treatment due to the cost of care.
