Health Minister Y. Satya Kumar Yadav on Friday announced that the government will establish 12 new dialysis centres across Andhra Pradesh to strengthen free treatment facilities for patients of renal ailments and reduce the burden of travelling long distances for healthcare services.
The new centres would be established at secondary-level government hospitals, including district, area and community hospitals, under the Prime Minister’s National Dialysis Programme (PMNDP).
A private agency selected through the tender process will take over the operations of the centres within the next three months. With the addition of the new units, the total number of dialysis centres operating under the programme in the State will rise from 61 to 73, he said.
“The government is spending ₹30 crore over five years for the establishment and maintenance of the additional centres. Dialysis treatment in private and corporate hospitals costs patients between ₹3,000 and ₹4,000 per session, with many patients needing four to five sessions a month. The expansion will provide a major relief to patients suffering from chronic kidney ailments, especially those living in rural and remote areas,” Mr. Satya Kumar Yadav said.
The new dialysis centres will be established at hospitals in Bhimavaram, Pileru, Jammalamadugu, Venkatagiri, Addanki, Sunnipenta, Railway Koduru, Kondepi, Kovvur, Mydukur, Nandigama and Vinukonda.
Each centre will be equipped with five dialysis machines and related equipment worth nearly ₹85 lakh. Officials estimate that around 1,500 patients will benefit from the new facilities. Apart from these centres, free dialysis services are also being provided at 186 empanelled hospitals under the NTR Vaidya Seva Trust.
“The government is spending nearly ₹165 crore annually on dialysis treatment under PMNDP and the NTR Vaidya Seva Trust combined,” the Minister said.
He stated that while 19 dialysis centres were established during the previous YSR Congress Party government between 2019 and 2024, the present coalition government has already set up 12 new centres and is now adding another 12 within just 23 months of administration.