Patients with Kidney conditions at the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, have started enjoying the Federal Government’s reduction in cost of dialysis from N50,000 to N12,000.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that UCH is one of several federal hospitals across the country recently selected by the FG to conduct dialysis for patients at the minimal cost of N12,000
Investigation by the NAN at the UCH indicates that the management had started implementing the cost-reduction initiative of the FG to bring succour to patients battling kidney failure.
In separate interviews with Dr Samuel Ajayi and Dr Yemi Raji, Consultant Nephrologists, respectively at the College of Medicine, UCH, they both expressed joy and gratitude to the federal government for the initiative.
Ajay, 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, sometimes 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, however, suggested that the government could help further by incorporating dialysis fully into NHIS for those who are permanently on dialysis, instead of a few sessions as it’s now.
According to him, ccontinous funding is necessary while transplantation also needs support from the government to take people out of dialysis and improve quality of life.
He emphasised the need for people to always use medicines as prescribed by doctors.
Ajayi cautioned against use of herbs, concoctions and unprescribed drugs, stressing “these can damage the kidneys.”
Also, Dr Raji, Consultant Nephrologist at the College of Medicine, UCH, decribed the policy as a welcome development.
According to him, the subsidy had created access for more patients who ordinarily would not have the wherewithal to procure dialysis.
“It’s a big relief for them, more number of patients will come onboard.
“Previously you see patients struggling to do dialysis once in a week but now such patients can increase their dialysis to two or three, 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 cut across all hospitals and regions in Nigeria and not only 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 need for transplant.
“The government can also subsidise kidney transplant. To do transplant, now in Nigeria, is 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 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. (NAN)
