The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare ( MoHFW ) has updated the Parliament on the progress of the Pradhan Mantri National Dialysis Programme ( PMNDP ). The scheme now operates in all 36 States/UTs, covering 751 districts (including 44 linked districts) through 1,856 dialysis centres equipped with 13,535 haemodialysis machines. This update reflects data as on 30 June 2026.
Key Developments (FY 2024‑25 & FY 2025‑26)
- All 36 State/UT governments have submitted proposals for new centres based on gap analysis in their annual Programme Implementation Plans.
- Approvals are recorded in the RoPs of the National Programme Coordination Committee.
- The CRM and senior officer visits continue to monitor operational status; any non‑operational centre is flagged for corrective action.
- State/UTs are responsible for staffing, especially trained dialysis technicians, and for ensuring timely operationalisation of the centres.
Important Facts
As per the annexed table, the cumulative number of centres added in the last two years varies widely. Notable increases include Maharashtra (from 65 to 158 centres) and Assam (from 54 to 74 centres). Several states such as Bihar, Jharkhand, and Uttarakhand reported no change, indicating either saturation or implementation challenges.
The programme is financed and technically supported by the central government under the NHM, while the actual delivery remains a state subject. This reflects the cooperative federalism model in Indian health governance.
Exam Relevance
Understanding PMNDP helps aspirants grasp:
- The interplay between Union and State responsibilities in health (GS2: Polity, GS3: Health).
- How centrally sponsored schemes are planned, approved, and monitored through mechanisms like CRM and RoPs.
- The role of financial and technical assistance under the NHM in strengthening health infrastructure.
- Data‑driven policy evaluation using state‑wise performance tables, a skill useful for answer writing in GS‑3 (Health) and GS‑2 (Polity).
Way Forward
To maximise impact, the following steps are recommended:
- Strengthen capacity building for dialysis technicians in states with low staffing.
- Introduce a real‑time monitoring dashboard linking centre operational status with the CRM reports.
- Encourage public‑private partnerships in districts where state resources are limited, while ensuring free services for eligible patients.
- Periodically review the gap‑analysis methodology to capture emerging needs, especially in remote and tribal areas.
Effective implementation of PMNDP will reduce the burden of kidney diseases, improve access to life‑saving treatment, and showcase a successful model of cooperative federalism in health governance.