Pradhan Mantri National Dialysis Programme (PMNDP)

  • 05 Aug 2025

In News:

The Pradhan Mantri National Dialysis Programme (PMNDP) has been significantly expanded by the Government of India and is now operational in all 36 States and Union Territories, covering 751 districts. As of June 30, 2025, a total of 1,704 dialysis centres are functional under the programme.

Background and Objectives

  • Launched in 2016, the PMNDP aims to provide free dialysis services to patients suffering from end-stage kidney failure, with special focus on Below Poverty Line (BPL) beneficiaries.
  • It is implemented under the National Health Mission (NHM) in Public-Private Partnership (PPP) mode.
  • The programme addresses the rising burden of chronic kidney disease and aims to ensure equitable access to life-saving renal care across India.

Key Features

  • Dialysis Services: Supports both Haemodialysis and Peritoneal Dialysis.
  • Infrastructure Expansion: Initially recommended at all district hospitals, with flexibility to scale down to Community Health Centres (CHCs), especially in remote and tribal regions.
  • PMNDP Portal: Integrates all NHM-supported dialysis centres, facilitates creation of a renal registry, and ensures service portability within states (“One State–One Dialysis”) and eventually nationwide (“One Nation–One Dialysis”).
  • Funding Mechanism: The NHM provides financial assistance to States/UTs for setting up and operating dialysis centres.
  • Implementation Strategy: Expansion is based on gap assessments carried out by States/UTs as part of their annual Programme Implementation Plans (PIPs).

Significance

  • Health Equity: Extends life-saving kidney care to vulnerable groups, including rural and tribal populations.
  • Cost Reduction: Provides free dialysis, reducing the out-of-pocket burden on families.
  • Data Integration: The renal registry aids in epidemiological tracking and planning of kidney health interventions.
  • Public Health Impact: Strengthens India’s healthcare delivery under Universal Health Coverage (UHC) goals.