The Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare has clarified recent reports suggesting that patients in the Northwest are excluded from the Federal Government’s dialysis subsidy programme.

The Health Ministry in a statement signed by Deputy Director/Head, Information & Public Relations, Alaba Balogun, said that the information is incorrect.

In a landmark move to save lives and reduce both physical and financial suffering particularly among vulnerable Nigerians, the FG has approved a subsidy scheme that drastically reduces the cost of dialysis in Federal hospitals.

Under the scheme, the cost of a dialysis session has been reduced from ₦50,000 to ₦12,000.

This initiative, driven by the Renewed Hope Agenda, is part of the administration’s deliberate effort to provide relief for patients with kidney-related diseases while expanding access to universal health coverage.

The pilot phase is currently being implemented in eleven (11) federal tertiary health institutions across all geo-political zones.

These are the Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital, University of Jos Teaching Hospital, National Hospital, Abuja and Federal Medical Centre, Ebute Metta.

Others are University College Hospital, Ibadan, University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Federal Medical Centre, Yenagoa, Federal Teaching Hospital, Owerri and Federal Medical Centre, Abakaliki.

“The Health Ministry emphasises that the Northwest is not excluded,” Balogun said, explaining that this pilot phase will be expanded to cover more federal hospitals across the country in due course.

According to the statement, the expansion will help to ensure that no Nigerian is left behind in accessing life-saving dialysis services.

Balogun stated that the Federal Government remains firmly committed to reducing the burden of non-communicable diseases and safeguarding the health and wellbeing of all Nigerians.