Nigerian Government Dialysis Subsidy Major Relief For Patients, Says Nephrology Association

The Nigerian Association of Nephrology (NAN) has described Nigerian Government’s subsidy on kidney dialysis sessions as a major relief for patients battling the disease.

In a statement, the Association urged the government to build on this initiative by integrating dialysis and kidney transplant services into the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) scheme.

It explained that “such integration would guarantee sustainable financing for kidney disease treatment, expand access to life-saving care, and ease the heavy financial burden on affected families.”

The Association’s President, Professor Olugbenga Awobusuyi, made the appeal in an interview with the Newsman in Lagos, Southwest Nigeria on Sunday.

The Nigeria Government has reduced the cost of dialysis sessions from ₦50,000 to ₦12,000 in designated federal hospitals across the country.

The intervention is part of the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which seeks to provide relief, expand access to healthcare and address the growing burden of kidney diseases.

Professor Awobusuyi noted that “the initiative showed that the government has taken an interest in the management of kidney disease.”

He, however, emphasised that the intervention should be reviewed to impact all kidney disease patients, stating that the “cost of adult dialysis is now lower than that of children.”

He said: “The cost to treat adults is lower than the cost for children’s dialysis because the intervention is mostly for adults’ dialysis.

“Now adults pay N12,000 while children still pay N40,000 or N50,000, depending on the area.

“What we’re advocating for right now is that there should be a comprehensive intervention for every patient battling kidney disease, be it children or adults.”