North-west not excluded from kidney dialysis subsidy -FG

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.”