Dialysis most availed of treatment under PMJAY

NEW DELHI: Dialysis has emerged as the most sought-after treatment under Ayushman Bharat-PM Jan Arogya Yojana. In the past six years since the central health scheme was launched, data shows more than 64 lakh patients have undergone the procedure.

Tamil Nadu has carried out 7.3 lakh dialysis cycles, according to latest data uploaded by National Health Authority, implementing agency for AB-PMJAY, on its website. Madhya Pradesh is next at 5.4 lakh, followed by Uttar Pradesh (5L) and Gujarat (3.4L).

‘ Kidney failure is a chronic problem’

Dialysis is provided free of cost to people under the scheme that offers an annual cover of Rs 5L a family for secondary and tertiary care hospitalisation. Senior citizens are eligible for the scheme irrespective of their economic status.

Every year, about 2.2 lakh new patients of End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) get added in India resulting in additional demand for 3.4 crore dialysis every year. The cost of dialysis varies, with a typical per-session cost ranging from Rs 1,000 to Rs 5,000.

“Kidney failure is a chronic problem and patients suffering from the condition require undergoing dialysis twice weekly for survival. That’s why the number of this procedure is so high,” Dr Shuchin Bajaj, founder director of Ujala Cygnus group of hospitals said. He added that diabetes is a leading cause of kidney failure and preventing or delaying its onset could help reduce risk of chronic kidney disease and, therefore, the need for dialysis.

“We also need to boost infrastructure and design policy to increase kidney transplants which can help such patients avoid dialysis,” Dr Bajaj added.

The health ministry also runs ‘Pradhan Mantri National Dialysis Program’ (PMNDP) to make dialysis services available for free to the poor. Apart from dialysis, NHA data shows AB-PMJAY is utilised by the beneficiaries for procedures such as cataract removal, angioplasty, and caesarean deliveries.