PM National Dialysis Programme 2025: Launch Date, Objectives & Components-UPSC

In April 2016, the 7th National Dialysis Programme was rolled out under the National Health Mission (NHM). It is aimed at patients who are presented with the problem of chronic kidney failure and who must undergo dialysis to survive. Dialysis is one of the life-sustaining treatments that clears waste and extra fluid when the kidneys fail to work correctly. Regrettably, dialysis is costly and unaffordable to most low-income families. Therefore, the PM National Dialysis Programme offers free dialysis sessions in the district hospitals of India. The scheme is operated in the mode of Public-Private Partnership (PPP) and also sustains an in-house hospital. The programme also includes all 36 states and union territories. It has more than 1400 dialysis units, and aims to ensure that no patient goes without dialysis just because they can not afford it.

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For UPSC aspirants, the PM National Dialysis Programme is essential from the perspective of health policy and social welfare. It is a key government initiative promoting equitable healthcare access. It exemplifies public-private partnership and the use of technology in health governance. Understanding this scheme aligns with topics in health infrastructure, disease burden, poverty alleviation, and digital health. The PM National Dialysis Programme is relevant for UPSC under General Studies Paper 2 (Governance) and Paper 3 (Health and Infrastructure), specifically under topics like Public Health, National Health Mission, and Government Schemes. Join the UPSC coaching today and boost your preparation. 

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Why In The News?

What Is the PM National Dialysis Programme?

Together with the government of India, the PM National Dialysis Programme was started to offer free dialysis services to poor patients with end-stage kidney failure. To ensure affordable and accessible dialysis, this initiative was launched in 2016 as a part of the National Health Mission. The PM National Dialysis Programme aims to cover all the nation's districts by establishing dialysis units, particularly in district hospitals, to cater to the Below Poverty Line (BPL) patients. As kidney disease in India increases the load burden, the programme is critical as it helps ease the financial burden on the patients who need to undergo dialysis regularly. Companies under the scheme also encourage the integration of dialysis services by providing their portal to foster the dream of One Nation-One Dialysis based on care portability. In this paper, the article aims to explain the existence and launch of the PM National Dialysis Programme, its organization, and its effect.

Read The Article Health Care Sector in India Here!

Objectives of the PM National Dialysis Programme

The primary objectives of the PM National Dialysis Programme are:

• To establish a dialysis center offering free dialysis treatment to patients below the poverty line (BPL) diagnosed with End-Stage renal disease (ESRD).
• To increase accessibility to dialysis facilities across districts in India.
• To establish a network of public and private dialysis centers under a single arm for seamless services.
• To reduce the economic burden of frequent dialysis on low-income families.
• To incorporate peritoneal dialysis as an alternative to hemodialysis for home-based treatment options.

Components of the PM National Dialysis Programme

The PM National Dialysis Programme has two main components:

Hemodialysis Services

Hemodialysis involves filtering blood by a machine outside the body. It requires patients to visit dialysis centers, typically 2-3 times weekly. The programme has set up hemodialysis centers in district hospitals offering free sessions to BPL patients.

Peritoneal Dialysis Services

Peritoneal dialysis is an alternative where dialysis fluid is introduced into the abdominal cavity at home, allowing patients to conduct treatment themselves. Guidelines for peritoneal dialysis under the PM National Dialysis Programme were issued to make treatment more accessible and convenient.

Read The Article National Health Mission (NHM) Here!

Implementation and Coverage

The PM National Dialysis Programme launch date was 7th April 2016. Since then, it has expanded to cover all states and union territories. As of the latest data, more than 1350 dialysis centers have been established in over 640 districts. The programme utilizes over 9000 hemodialysis machines and has served more than 19 lakh patients with millions of dialysis sessions.

The government uses the PMNDP portal to register patients and dialysis centers, creating a unified renal registry. This portal helps implement the "One Nation-One Dialysis" concept, enabling patients to receive dialysis across states using the Ayushman Bharat Health Account (ABHA) ID.

PM National Dialysis Programme and Public Health

India is faced with the increasing threat to public health from kidney disease. New patients who require dialysis for end-stage renal disease require about 2.2 lakhs annually. Such patients are likely to have fatal outcomes in the case of a lack of timely treatment. This is being addressed by the PM National Dialysis Programme, which offers continuous free dialysis to deserving patients. This helps to decrease mortality levels and improve life.

Often, dialysis costs leave many families in financial ruin, as it costs thousands of rupees a session. The free dialysis scheme within PMNDP avoids distress in selling assets and debt by poor households through free services.

Read The Article Public Health Challenges in India Here!

How do I apply for the Pradhan Mantri National Dialysis Programme?

Patients or their families should attend district hospitals or pre-selected dialysis centers to use the Pradhan Mantri National Dialysis Programme. The application will go through the following steps:

• Registering at the dialysis facility with proof of Below Poverty Line status.
• Medical assessment and confirmation of need for dialysis by specialists.
• Enrollment through the PMNDP portal or locally by hospital authorities.
• Once registered, patients can access free dialysis treatment sessions per their clinical needs.

Acquisition of information and updates on the official information site of the PMNDP is available along with downloadable data, including the Pradhan Mantri National Dialysis Programme PDF guide.

Role of Companies and Public-Private Partnerships

The PM National Dialysis Programme companies significantly deliver medical infrastructure and skills. Available under the PPP model, the dialysis machines, trained personnel and consumable items such as dialyzers are provided by the private companies under the PPP model. The government will give the space and utilities and fund the operational expenses of treating the BPL patients. Such a collaboration facilitates extensive reach to a good service at a low cost.

The advantage to the private companies is that dialysis services are extended, and they end up reaching underserved populations. Priorities are given to the welfare of the patients and compliance under the government supervision.

Challenges and Way Forward

Despite its success, the PM National Dialysis Programme faces challenges, including:

• Ensuring adequate dialysis machine availability in all districts.
• Training a sufficient healthcare workforce in nephrology services.
• Maintaining quality and timely services across remote areas.
• Expanding awareness and simplifying the application process.
• Integrating peritoneal dialysis more fully to reduce hospital visits.

The government is still combating these challenges by investing more money, improving infrastructure, and improving the digital portals. Its expansion strategies involve additional centers and better patient follow-up.

Key Dates and Facts

• PM National Dialysis Programme launch date: 7th April 2016
• PM National Dialysis Programme year: Rollout started in 2016, ongoing expansion to date
• Coverage: All states and union territories with 1350+ dialysis centers
• Beneficiaries: Over 19 lakh patients served as of mid-2023
• Dialysis types: Hemodialysis and Peritoneal dialysis under one umbrella

Related Schemes and Healthcare Linkages

The PM National Dialysis Programme is linked to the broader National Health Mission. It complements health insurance schemes like Ayushman Bharat by reducing out-of-pocket expenditure. The renal registry built through the PMNDP portal aids research and monitoring for kidney disease. Other free diagnostic programs support patients with essential lab tests.

Read The Article Ayushman Bharat Here!

Conclusion

The landmark scheme is known as the PM National Dialysis Programme and responds to one of the increasing health emergencies in India, kidney failure. It also provides free, accessible and quality facilities to the poorest in society. With the help of good public-private collaboration, new digital solutions and the enlarging infrastructure, the programme lowers both mortality and economic burden brought about by kidney disease. The constant focus on enhancing reach, service quality, and awareness will contribute to India's war against end-stage renal disease in the programme, an example of an inclusive health care and social protection that helps millions of needy Indians.

After reading this article, we hope all your doubts about the "PM National Dialysis Programme" have been addressed. The textbook provides comprehensive notes on civil services and various other competitive examinations. It has always ensured the quality of its products, such as content pages, live tests, GK, current affairs, mocks, and so on. Ace your UPSC preparation with the Testbook. Download the Testbook App now!