- Why in news
- On 11 August 2026, the Health Ministry told the Rajya Sabha that PMNDP now runs in all 36 States/UTs through 1,856 haemodialysis centres, as reported on 30.06.2026.
- What it is
- The Pradhan Mantri National Dialysis Programme gives free haemodialysis to eligible patients. It sets up dialysis centres in District Hospitals and other health facilities. It is supported through the National Health Mission.
- Coverage
- The programme runs in all 36 States/UTs and 751 districts, including 44 linked districts.
- Infrastructure
- There are 1,856 haemodialysis centres with 13,535 machines, as reported on 30.06.2026.
- Funding route
- Health is a state subject. The Centre gives technical and financial support to States/UTs under the National Health Mission.
- Approval process
- Centres are set up on State/UT proposals in their annual PIPs, based on gap analysis. The National Programme Coordination Committee considers them, and approvals go out through Records of Proceedings.
- Monitoring and responsibility
- The Ministry monitors through the Common Review Mission and visits by senior officers. States/UTs and implementing partners must operationalise centres and deploy trained staff.
Don’t confuse with PMNDP vs Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY: PMNDP provides free dialysis in public facilities via NHM support. PM-JAY is a separate insurance scheme covering hospitalisation.
Schemes: 52 Prelims questions since 2013, 10 in Prelims 2026 alone. They test features, the period and who funds it. In Mains, 33 news-triggered questions, mostly GS3.
Why it matters
- Improves access to costly dialysis close to home, reducing out-of-pocket spending for kidney patients.
- Extends service to district level and to linked districts.
Problems
- Some centres are non-operational, so States must take corrective action.
- Trained manpower such as dialysis technicians depends on State/UT governments and implementing partners.
Way forward
- Strengthen monitoring through regular reviews and the Common Review Mission.
- Ensure timely operationalisation of centres and adequate trained staff.
Put in your answer
Federal division in health: Public Health and Hospitals are state subjects, yet the Centre supports dialysis services through NHM funding.
Scale of PMNDP: The programme covers all 36 States/UTs and 751 districts with 1,856 centres.
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UPSC’s own questions that come close to this issue, from our Prelims and Mains banks.
No practice question for this one; the card may still help an answer. Why: Lasting health scheme; release is a coverage update with numbers that change, so a card but no question.
Worth revising until Prelims 2028: most news questions come within two years of the event.