Dialysis Cost in India Per Month 2026: What Patients and Families Need to Know
In India, the average cost of Dialysis ranges from ₹18,000 to ₹50,000 per month in 2026, depending on the treatment plan and the healthcare provider. According to the data we have from 344 dialysis-related fundraising campaigns on Milaap, the average fundraising requirement for treatment was approximately ₹7.5 lakh. This highlights the significant long-term financial burden that many patients and their families face.
While these figures provide a general estimate, the actual cost of dialysis varies based on several factors, including the type of dialysis (Hemodialysis or Peritoneal Dialysis), the number of sessions required per month, the hospital or the dialysis center, the city of treatment, as well as additional expenses such as medications, lab tests, vascular access procedures and consultations.
Dialysis Cost Per Session
In the list below I have covered the average cost of hemodialysis per session in India:
| Type | Cost |
|---|---|
| Hemodialysis at Government Hospitals | Ranges from ₹300 to ₹1,500 |
| Hemodialysis at Private Centers | Ranges from ₹1,200 to ₹4,000 |
| Hemodialysis at Premium Hospitals | Ranges from ₹3,000 to ₹4,000 |
Peritoneal dialysis is generally not charged on a per-session basis. Since it’s done out of hospital, patients spend a monthly expense for dialysis solutions, consumables, equipment, and further care.
Source: Das Hospital, Nephro Plus.
Monthly Cost Calculator
To help you estimate your expenses, I’ve also included a monthly cost calculator for 12 sessions:
| Type | Cost |
|---|---|
| Hemodialysis at Government Hospitals | Ranges from ₹3,600 to ₹18,000 |
| Hemodialysis at Private Centers | Ranges from ₹18,000 to ₹40,000 |
| Peritoneal Dialysis | Ranges from ₹25,000 to ₹50,000 |
Government hospitals generally offer dialysis at significantly lower costs due to government subsidies and public health programmes. Private hospitals and specialised dialysis centres may charge higher fees but often provide shorter waiting times, advanced facilities, and greater convenience.
Source: DCDC Kidney Care, Das Hospital, Nephro Plus.
What Determines the Cost of Dialysis?
The cost of dialysis can vary significantly from one patient to another. The final expense depends not only on the type of dialysis but also on how frequently treatment is needed, where it is provided, and the additional medical care required alongside dialysis.
- Type of Dialysis: Hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis have different cost structures. Hemodialysis is generally charged per session, while peritoneal dialysis involves recurring expenses for dialysis solutions, consumables, equipment, and related care.
- Number of Sessions: The frequency of dialysis directly affects monthly expenses. Patients undergoing regular hemodialysis may require multiple sessions each week, making the number of sessions an important factor in the overall monthly cost.
- Hospital or Dialysis Centre: Costs vary between government hospitals, private dialysis centres, and premium hospitals. Government facilities may offer substantially lower rates through subsidies and public health programmes, while private and premium facilities may charge more.
- City of Treatment: The cost of dialysis can also differ depending on the city and healthcare provider. Differences in operating costs and healthcare infrastructure can affect the amount patients pay.
- Medicines and Laboratory Tests: Dialysis is often accompanied by regular blood tests, medicines, consultations, and other monitoring. These expenses can add to the overall cost of ongoing treatment.
- Vascular Access and Other Procedures: Patients may require procedures related to vascular access, particularly when starting or continuing hemodialysis. These are additional expenses beyond the dialysis sessions themselves.
For this reason, the quoted price of a dialysis session or a monthly package may not represent the patient’s total healthcare expenditure. Patients and families should also account for medicines, investigations, consultations, procedures, and other recurring costs when estimating the overall financial requirement.
City-wise Dialysis Cost Breakdown
Based on dialysis-related fundraisers created on Milaap, the amount families seek varies across cities. The figures below reflect average fundraising requirements and should not be interpreted as the average cost of dialysis in those cities.
| City | Median Cost |
|---|---|
| Hyderabad | ₹23.32 lakh |
| Chennai | ₹22.06 lakh |
| New Delhi | ₹16.07 lakh |
| Bengaluru | ₹11.31 lakh |
Source: Milaap Dialysis fundraiser data.
Insurance Coverage
Many insurance policies in India cover dialysis treatments under the day-care procedure category, as a normal dialysis session is completed in 4-6 hours and does not require prolonged hospital stay.
However, the extent of coverage varies from one policy to another. While some premium insurance plans provide full coverage with no upper cost limit, many standard policies include co-payment clauses, deductibility, waiting period or sub-limits that may require patients to pay a portion of their treatment expenses out-of-pocket.
Additionally certain expenses may not be covered under the policy. These can include non-medical consumables such as gloves, syringes, tubes and in some cases, dialyzer also, depending on the insurer’s terms and conditions.
Dialysis patients also require monthly blood tests and regular doctor visits. Since they are classified as OPD, they are generally not covered under a standard health insurance policy unless the plan includes an OPD benefit or add-on.
Source: NYVO, Care Insurance, Oneassure.
Government Schemes
The Indian government offers several schemes to make dialysis accessible and affordable to the underprivileged population. The Pradhan Mantri National Dialysis Programme and Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana provide heavily subsidized or entirely free dialysis sessions across district hospitals and empaneled private centers, reducing out-of-pocket medical costs.
Pradhan Mantri National Dialysis Programme (PMNDP)
Pradhan Mantri National Dialysis Programme provides completely free renal dialysis sessions for beneficiaries below the poverty line, and is subsidized, at a highly affordable rate to non-BPL patients across India. It supports both Hemodialysis and Peritoneal Dialysis. All Indian citizens suffering from End-Stage Renal Disease can utilize it, with priority given to the economically disadvantaged. Patients must visit their nearest district hospital or PMNDP center to get enrolled in the scheme.
Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana
Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY provides ₹5 lakhs per eligible family per year for secondary and tertiary care, which includes dialysis sessions, pre/post-procedure consultations, and related medications, along with general 3 days pre- and 15 days post- hospitalization expenses. Any additional expenses exceeding the annual cap must be taken care of by the patient’s family.
Employee State Insurance Corporation
Employees insured under ESI and their dependents are entitled to full coverage for dialysis and chronic kidney disease treatment at ESIC hospitals and empaneled centers without upfront costs.
How to Reduce Dialysis Expenses
- Use Health Insurance: Choose network hospitals, complete pre-authorisation, and understand your policy’s coverage and limits.
- Utilise Government Schemes: Check your eligibility for PMNDP, PM-JAY, or ESIC to reduce treatment costs.
- Seek Financial Aid: Explore NGOs, charitable trusts, and crowdfunding platforms for additional financial support.
- Compare Dialysis Centres: Compare costs across government hospitals, private hospitals, and specialised dialysis centres before starting treatment.
- Consider Peritoneal Dialysis: If medically suitable, home-based peritoneal dialysis may lower recurring travel and treatment expenses.
- Claim Tax Benefits: Save all medical bills to claim eligible deductions under Section 80DDB of the Income Tax Act.
- Prevent Complications: Follow your doctor’s advice, medications, and diet to reduce avoidable hospitalisations and extra expenses.
Frequently Asked Questions
The average cost of dialysis in India ranges from ₹18,000 to ₹50,000 per month, depending on the type of dialysis, hospital, city, treatment frequency, medications, and other associated medical expenses.
The first month of dialysis is usually more expensive than subsequent months because it may include initial consultations, diagnostic tests, vascular access procedures, and other pre-treatment expenses.
The average cost of peritoneal dialysis in India ranges from ₹25,000 to ₹50,000 per month. The total expense depends on the type of peritoneal dialysis, dialysis solutions, consumables, equipment, and follow-up consultations.
Yes. Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY) covers dialysis treatment for eligible beneficiaries at empanelled public and private hospitals.
The Pradhan Mantri National Dialysis Programe (PMNDP) is a government initiative that provides free or highly subsidized dialysis services through district hospitals across India.
Neither option is universally better. Hemodialysis is performed at a hospital or dialysis center under supervision, while peritoneal dialysis is performed at home. The most suitable option depends on the patient’s medical condition, lifestyle, and doctor’s recommendation.
Long-term dialysis can place a significant financial burden on patients and families due to recurring treatment costs, medications, laboratory tests, transportation, dietary requirements, and loss of income.
No, dialysis is not always permanent. Patients with acute kidney injury (AKI) may require dialysis temporarily until their kidneys recover. However, those with end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) usually need long-term dialysis unless they undergo a successful kidney transplant.
