President Bola Tinubu, yesterday, declared automatic engagement of all 774 personnel under the newly launched National Health Fellows Programme, assuring them of employment after their one-year stint.
He also approved a subsidy on kidney dialysis for Nigerians, reducing the cost for Nigerians from ₦50,000 to ₦12,000.
During the programme’s launch at the State House Conference Centre, Abuja, the President told the fellows, who will monitor Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs) across Nigeria’s 774 local councils: “You are hired,” reiterating the government’s commitment to strengthening the healthcare system in the country.
The National Health Fellows Programme, a key initiative of Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, was approved in April 2024 to enhance accountability and efficiency in healthcare delivery.
The fellows have been undergoing training since February 27, 2025, under the Sector Wide Approach (SWAp) coordination office.
Tinubu’s announcement followed a call by Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof Muhammad Pate, for federal, state and local governments to integrate the fellows into the workforce to advance Universal Health Coverage (UHC) in the country.
President Tinubu hailed the fellows as pioneers of a new era in primary healthcare, just as Pate highlighted their crucial role in supporting the government’s plan to expand PHCs from 8,809 to 17,618 by 2027.
The initiative underscores the administration’s commitment to improving healthcare infrastructure and service delivery nationwide.
The kidney dialysis subsidy is being implemented across the six geopolitical zones at some federal medical institutions.
Participating institutions include the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) Ebute-Metta Lagos; FMC, Jabi, Abuja; University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan; FMC, Owerri, Imo State and University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH), Maiduguri .
Others are FMC, Abeokuta, Ogun State; Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Lagos; FMC, Azare, Bauchi State; University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) Benin City, Edo State and University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH), Calabar, Cross River State.
The subsidy was launched in January at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital (ATBUTH), Bauchi.
According to Hammatu Haruna, the manager-in-charge of the renal centre at ATBUTH, patients are happy with the subsidy.
“They are paying only N12,000. Our patients are happy with this initiative, and we have seen improvement, remarkably, in patients’ condition.
“Patients used to find it difficult to pay; even if you tell them the amount, they had to go back and sell something before they could afford the dialysis. Some even preferred to stay at home since they could not afford it,” Haruna said.
She said 35 patients had benefitted from the scheme since it was launched on January 8 this year, adding that the Federal Ministry of Health provided adequate resources to ensure the success of the programme.
(The Guardian)
