Ibadan, Nigeria: Patients with Kidney conditions at the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, have started enjoying the Federal Government’s reduction in the cost of dialysis from N50,000 to N12,000.
The UCH is one of several federal hospitals across the country that the FG has recently selected to conduct dialysis for patients at a minimal cost of N12,000.
An investigation at the UCH indicates that management has started implementing the cost-reduction initiative of the FG to bring relief to patients battling kidney failure.
In separate interviews with Dr Samuel Ajayi and Dr Yemi Raji, consultants in Nephrology at the College of Medicine, UCH, both expressed joy and gratitude to the federal government for the initiative.
Ajayi, who is in charge of the programme, confirmed that its implementation had commenced at UCH, describing it as timely and helpful. “It has reduced the cost of kidney dialysis.
“The policy has been implemented at UCH, Ibadan, this year, and people are benefiting.
“It has cut down the price of dialysis because before, patients were paying about N50,000, but it’s N12,000 now due to the policy.
“The government gave us all the consumables and machines we need for the dialysis, and it’s been working smoothly.
“The government is doing well already; they should just continue to supply the materials to us regularly,” he said.
Ajayi suggested that the government could further help by incorporating dialysis fully into the NHIS for those who are permanently on dialysis, rather than just a few sessions as it is currently.
According to him, continuous funding is necessary, while transplantation also requires support from the government to help people transition out of dialysis and improve their quality of life.
He emphasised the need for people always to use medicines as prescribed by doctors.
Ajayi cautioned against the use of herbs, concoctions and unprescribed drugs, stressing “these can damage the kidneys.”
Also, Dr Raji, Consultant Nephrologist at the College of Medicine, UCH, described the policy as a welcome development.
According to him, the subsidy had created access for more patients who would ordinarily not have the means to procure dialysis.
“It’s a big relief for them; more patients will come on board.
“Previously, you saw patients struggling to do dialysis once a week, but now such patients can increase their dialysis to two or three times a week, which will improve their quality of life,” he said.
The kidney expert urged the Federal Government to find other innovative ways to ensure that the policy is sustained.
According to him, the policy should be implemented across all hospitals and regions in Nigeria, not just in a few selected federal government hospitals.
“They can bring in private investors, philanthropists and donors for more funding; dialysis is not the ultimate, there is also a need for transplant.
“The government can also subsidise a kidney transplant. To undergo a transplant in Nigeria currently costs between N20 million and N30 million.
“If the government slashes the amount to let’s say N7.5 million, it will help more patients to access a kidney transplant,” he said.
Raji advised Nigerians to pay more attention to their health, stressing that managing kidney failure was very expensive and should not be experienced.
“People should do regular exercise, take medications properly and avoid abuse of medications, including pain killers,” he said.
