Andhra Pradesh Government Announces 22 New Dialysis Centres to Expand Free Treatment

Andhra Pradesh is setting up 22 new dialysis centres under the Pradhan Mantri National Dialysis Programme to improve access to treatment. Health Minister Satya Kumar Yadav announced on Tuesday that the new facilities will come up in districts including West Godavari, Chittoor, YSR Kadapa, Krishna, SPSR Nellore, Bapatla, Tirupati, NTR, Palnadu, Prakasam, East Godavari, Vizianagaram, Nandyal, and Sri Sathya Sai.

Facility Details

Each new centre will feature five dialysis machines at an estimated cost of ₹85 lakh. These machines will allow every centre to conduct about 15 dialysis sessions a day. The state already runs 61 centres under the national programme and 170 centres under the Dr. NTR Vaidya Seva scheme. The government added these new facilities in response to requests from public representatives.

Financial Impact

During the 2025-26 period, the government spent ₹197.88 crore to provide free dialysis services across both schemes. A single session costs between ₹3,000 and ₹4,000 at private hospitals, whereas the state incurs an expense of ₹999 per session. Providing free treatment at government locations will offer major financial relief to patients and their families.

Context

Chronic kidney disease often requires patients to undergo regular, lifelong dialysis treatments, which can place a heavy financial burden on low-income households. Government-backed health schemes help bridge this gap by offering subsidised or free care at public medical facilities.