The management of Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital, Bauchi, has disclosed that no fewer than 897 patients from across the northeastern states have benefited from subsidised kidney dialysis at the approved rate of N12,000.
The Head of Public Relations and Protocol Unit of ATBUTH, Usman Koli, who made the clarification in a statement on Wednesday, said the omission of the hospital from the list of federal facilities currently providing the subsidised service was an oversight that needed to be corrected for the sake of accuracy and public record.
He explained that the hospital had been implementing the initiative since January 8, 2025.
“ATBUTH Bauchi has been providing subsidised kidney dialysis services at the approved rate since January 8, 2025. To date, a total of 897 patients have benefited from this intervention. ATBUTH Bauchi has consistently ensured that all consumables are covered within the said amount, thereby easing the financial burden on patients and their families. These services have reached not only the people of Bauchi State but also beneficiaries from across the North-East and even neighbouring states,” Koli said.
According to him, the hospital has been a frontline partner in the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda for healthcare delivery.
He noted that since November 2024, the teaching hospital had successfully implemented the free Caesarean section initiative for expectant mothers.
He added that the programme covers not only the surgery but also post-operative care, medication, and treatment for both mothers and their newborns, stressing that more than 1,000 women and babies had so far benefited.
Koli further highlighted that ATBUTH was among the pioneer institutions that rolled out the National Emergency Medical Service and Ambulance System in Nigeria.
“Since its official flag-off in Bauchi by the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, the hospital has provided free emergency care for up to 48 hours to over 500 patients. This service has proven to be a critical safety net for victims of accidents, emergencies, and other life-threatening conditions across the region,” he said.
The hospital spokesman commended the Federal Government through the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare for its commitment to addressing the challenges of healthcare delivery in the country.
“As a tertiary hospital strategically positioned in the North-East, we remain fully aligned with the ministry’s vision of expanding access to affordable, quality, and compassionate healthcare.
“For clarity, ATBUTH Bauchi is not only part of the subsidised kidney dialysis programme but is also at the forefront of other national health initiatives that are directly improving lives. Our commitment is firm, and our resolve is to continue cushioning the hardship of Nigerians, especially the most vulnerable, through the support of the Federal Government,” he added.
It will be recalled that the Federal Government, in a statement on Monday by the Special Adviser to the President on Policy Communication, Daniel Bwala, disclosed that it had subsidised the cost of kidney dialysis in federal hospitals across the country, slashing the price of the procedure by 76%.
Bwala noted that the new policy, approved by President Bola Tinubu, reduces the cost of a single dialysis session from an average of N50,000 to a new subsidised rate of N12,000.
He explained that the move is expected to bring immediate financial relief to thousands of Nigerians battling kidney disease, a condition that often requires multiple treatment sessions per week.
According to him, the new pricing is already in effect in 10 major federal medical centres and teaching hospitals across all six geopolitical zones.
