On Monday, Uttarakhand’s Chief Secretary, Radha Raturi, had a meeting to check how well free dialysis services are working for poor people. These services are part of the Prime Minister’s National Dialysis Program, which helps people below the poverty line (BPL) and those with golden cards through partnerships between the government and private companies.
Raturi told officials to make sure that every district has access to these services without any delays. She emphasized that the health department needs to spread the word about the free dialysis services effectively.
Right now, there are 19 dialysis centers across all 13 districts, using a total of 153 dialysis machines to help patients. They provide free dialysis for BPL and golden card holders, while patients above the poverty line (APL) can also receive these services for a small fee. Of the dialysis machines, 82 are being operated through corporate social responsibility (CSR) partnerships, and 49 are managed by the Hans Foundation. Payments for these services are made through the Ayushman scheme, as mentioned in a press release.
From April to December 2024-25, a total of 117,490 dialysis sessions have been provided to people who need help. Raturi also asked the health department to make good use of the PMNDP (Pradhan Mantri National Dialysis Program) online portal to keep track of patients receiving free services. She mentioned the importance of using a unique 14-digit ABHA ID for each patient to avoid duplication and maintain transparency.
The goal of the National Dialysis Program is to provide affordable and high-quality dialysis services to those suffering from kidney issues
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