National Dialysis Programme (NDP)
Background
End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) is increasing due to the rising burden of non-communicable diseases. While renal transplantation is limited by infrastructure and organ availability, dialysis remains the primary and often the only treatment option for most patients.
Rising Burden
Approximately 2.2 lakh new ESRD patients are added every year in India, creating a demand for nearly 3.4 crore dialysis sessions annually.
Infrastructure Gap
India has around 4,950 dialysis centres, mostly in the private sector, meeting less than half of the total demand.
Financial Burden
Each dialysis session costs around ₹2,000, leading to an annual expense of ₹3–4 lakh per patient.
Programme Strategy
- Strengthening District Hospitals with dialysis facilities
- Providing affordable and accessible dialysis services
- Leveraging Public-Private Partnership (PPP) for faster implementation
- Utilizing public sector strengths such as free drugs and diagnostics
Types of Dialysis
Hemodialysis (HD)
Blood is filtered using a dialysis machine (artificial kidney) and returned to the body.
- Performed at a dialysis centre
- Typically 3 times per week
- Each session lasts 3–4 hours
Peritoneal Dialysis (PD)
The abdomen lining acts as a natural filter. A special solution removes waste from blood.
- Can be done at home
- Types:
- CAPD – 3 to 5 times daily
- APD – Automated overnight dialysis
- Requires minimal medical supervision
Key Advantages
- Improves access to life-saving dialysis services
- Reduces out-of-pocket expenditure for patients
- Enables treatment closer to home (especially through PD)
- Enhances healthcare capacity at district-level facilities