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The short answer
Dialysis in Nigeria is usually paid per session, two or three times a week. A Federal Government pilot, announced in August 2025, cut the price to ₦12,000 a session at 11 federal hospitals; elsewhere, specialists quoted in March 2026 put private sessions at about ₦45,000 to ₦80,000. Pay the hospital's own account against its bill, and budget for drugs and tests on top of sessions.
When a parent in Nigeria is told they need dialysis, the cost lands on the family quickly and keeps coming. Children abroad often carry most of it. Knowing what to expect, and paying in a way that keeps the money going to treatment, makes a hard situation more manageable.
What dialysis costs
Haemodialysis is normally charged per session. The Guardian's March 2026 report, drawing on several kidney specialists, gave these figures:
| Setting | Price per session (as reported) | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Federal subsidy centres | ₦12,000 | Federal Ministry of Information, 20 Aug 2025 |
| Private hospitals | About ₦50,000 to ₦80,000 | Prof. Babatunde Salako, Guardian, 12 Mar 2026 |
| Average across centres | About ₦50,000 to ₦60,000 | Prof. Jacob Awobusuyi, Guardian, 12 Mar 2026 |
| Depending on location | About ₦45,000 to ₦70,000 | Dr Theophilus Umeizudike (LASUTH), Guardian, 12 Mar 2026 |
Specialists in the same report said patients typically need two or three sessions a week, and one estimated a further ₦3 million to ₦4 million a year for injections, medications and procedures, bringing the yearly total to roughly ₦10 million. Ask your parent's hospital for its own current price list.
The federal subsidy
The Federal Ministry of Information announced on 20 August 2025 that the Federal Government had approved a subsidy cutting dialysis to ₦12,000 a session, from ₦50,000, in a pilot at eleven federal tertiary hospitals:
- Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital; University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital; Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital; University of Jos Teaching Hospital
- National Hospital, Abuja; Federal Medical Centre, Ebute Metta; University College Hospital, Ibadan; University of Benin Teaching Hospital
- Federal Medical Centre, Yenagoa; Federal Teaching Hospital, Owerri; Federal Medical Centre, Abakaliki
The release said more hospitals would be added and gave no formal eligibility criteria. In March 2026 one specialist told the Guardian the subsidy was available in only about 0.5% of the hospitals offering dialysis, and another noted it does not cover costs such as electricity, water and equipment maintenance. Ask the hospital's renal unit whether your parent can be treated under the subsidy and whether there is a waiting list.
A worked annual budget
Paying the hospital directly
- Get the hospital's account from its accounts department or a printed invoice, and confirm it by phone.
- Pay against a bill that names your parent, either per session, weekly or by a deposit the hospital draws down. Ask which the renal unit prefers.
- Ask for receipts each time and keep them by month.
- Pay pharmacies directly for prescribed drugs where you can, with the prescription and the receipt sent to you.
- Keep a small emergency balance with a trusted relative for transport and unplanned costs, and ask for a monthly account.
Our guide to paying a hospital bill in Nigeria from the UK covers transfer routes in more detail.
Insurance and longer-term planning
The Guardian report did not say whether dialysis is covered by health insurance schemes, and specialists called for dialysis and post-transplant drugs to be included. If your parent is enrolled with an HMO or a state scheme, ask it in writing what it covers. Our guides on health insurance for parents in Nigeria and enrolling parents with the NHIA explain the options.
If transplant is discussed, specialists in the same report put it at about ₦25 million to ₦30 million or more. Siblings sharing long-term costs should agree shares and a ledger early; see pooling money with siblings.
On UK tax, regular payments from your income that leave your standard of living intact can be exempt from Inheritance Tax as normal expenditure out of income; GOV.UK gives support for an elderly relative as an example. This is information, not tax advice.
Where Pryme fits
A Pryme Personal account holds naira and pounds, so you can pay the hospital and pharmacy directly in naira with Send each week, converting with Swap when you choose and seeing the rate first.
Questions people ask
How much is dialysis per session in Nigeria?
Specialists quoted in March 2026 put private sessions at about ₦45,000 to ₦80,000. The federal pilot price is ₦12,000 at 11 federal hospitals. Ask the hospital for its current price.
Which hospitals offer ₦12,000 dialysis?
The August 2025 announcement listed 11 federal hospitals, including National Hospital Abuja, UCH Ibadan, FMC Ebute Metta and UBTH Benin. Ask the renal unit about eligibility and waiting lists.
How many dialysis sessions a week are needed?
Specialists in the Guardian report said two or three a week is typical. The doctor decides for each patient.
How can I pay my parent's dialysis from the UK?
Pay the hospital's own account against its bill, confirm the account by phone, and keep receipts. Pay pharmacies directly for drugs where possible.
Sources
- Federal Ministry of Information: FG subsidises cost of kidney dialysis · accessed Oct 2026
- Guardian Nigeria: Dialysis hits ₦80,000 per session (12 Mar 2026) · accessed Oct 2026
- GOV.UK: Inheritance Tax on gifts · accessed Oct 2026
This article is general information, not financial, legal or tax advice. Products described are provided under the terms on this site and are subject to regulation and eligibility.