25 states have proposed support for the programme under the National Health Mission for dialysis programme, out of which approvals have been provided in nine states. (Photo: Representational Image)

New Delhi: Andhra Pradesh will become the first state to roll out the National Dialysis programme at an all-time low cost. Announced in the budget this year, about 25 states have proposed support for the programme with AP being the first state that will introduce it at a subsidized rate of Rs 960 for the above-poverty-line people and free for the below poverty line population soon.

The finance minister, in his budget speech this year, had announced the dialysis programme to be supported in all district hospitals in PPP mode under National Health Mission. So far, 25 states have sought support under the National Health Mission for dialysis programme, out of which approvals have been provided in nine states, including Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Himachal Pradesh, Odisha, Maharashtra, Kerala, Gujarat, Punjab and Karnataka.

“Andhra Pradesh has moved ahead, has tendered too, and will soon start at Rs 960 per dialysis, resulting in a big relief to the people,” said a senior official in the health ministry.

At least 250 district hospitals are expected to operationalise dialysis services in hospitals by the end of this year. Considering that dialysis is a “continous” and an “expensive” process, the government in their guidelines had proposed the private partner to provide medical human resource, dialysis machine along with RO water plant infrastructure, dialyzer and consumables, while the space, power and water supply within district hospitals be provided by the state government.

Rs 312 has been sought to roll out the implementation of the programme for 2016-2017. The government proposes to cover 314 districts in one year. However, states like Arunachal Pradesh, Goa, Jammu and Kashmir, Manipur, Mizoram, Sikkim, A&N islands, Chandigarh, Daman and Diu, Delhi, Lakshadweep and Puducherry have yet to respond to the new scheme.

According to India Renal Foundation, India has very little to offer in terms of infrastructural facilities for renal care. Centres for treatment are few, and are concentrated in the major towns. To take the example of haemodialysis, there are only about 500 dialysis centres in India with about 3000 dialysis machines.

The cost of getting haemodialysis (12 dialysis /month) is around Rs 12,000-15,000 per month whereas for peritoneal dialysis it is around Rs. 18,000-20,000 per month. The dialysis scheme which is proposed for all district hospitals therefore aims at bringing down the out-of-pocket expense for the people.

Andhra Pradesh to become the first state to roll out the National Dialysis programme at an all-time low cost. A subsidized rate of Rs 960 for the above poverty line people and free for the below poverty line population soon has been proposed. 25 states have proposed support for the programme under the National Health Mission for dialysis programme, out of which approvals have been provided in nine states.

(This story originally appeared in the Asian Age)