The Federal Medical Centre (FMC) in Abuja is set to provide dialysis treatment at a significantly subsidised rate, reducing costs by 80% to make kidney care more accessible and affordable for Nigerians.

This was announced by the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Salako, during the commissioning of a clinical service building and ward extension at the hospital on Tuesday.

Dr. Salako explained that the subsidy is part of the Federal Government’s 2024 initiative to reduce dialysis costs in 10 selected federal tertiary health institutions, with FMC Jabi identified as a key candidate for the programme.

“FMC Jabi is now well-positioned to join the implementation of this initiative,” the minister stated.

He added that the initiative aligns with the second pillar of the Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative (HSRII), which prioritises equitable access to quality healthcare services as a fundamental right under President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

“The provision of qualitative and accessible healthcare services is a key aspect of the Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative. FMC Jabi is playing a crucial role in this chain at the tertiary care level,” Salako said.

He assured Nigerians that ongoing investments in the health sector would reduce reliance on medical tourism for critical treatments like kidney transplants.

“These new facilities are critical to achieving the vision of FMC Jabi as a world-class hospital,” he added.

Dr. Saad Ahmed, Chief Medical Director (CMD) of FMC Abuja, highlighted the transformative potential of the hospital’s new facilities.

“The clinical service building includes a dialysis and transplantation center, pathology laboratories, offices, and a state-of-the-art conference room,” Ahmed revealed.

He also announced the completion of a 64-bed ward extension, featuring private, semi-private, and open ward spaces to address the hospital’s limited admission capacity.

“The ward extension will ease the challenges caused by inadequate bed spaces for patients,” Ahmed said.

Additionally, the CMD noted the acquisition of a neurosurgical operating microscope to enhance brain surgery services, while appealing for support to overcome challenges such as limited land for expansion and an insufficient oxygen plant.

“We request assistance to acquire undeveloped land around the hospital to address these issues,” Ahmed stated.

The newly commissioned clinical services building, a three-story facility, features 18 hemodialysis beds and is set to pave the way for the hospital’s renal transplantation programme in the near future.