Government Schemes for Kidney Disease and Dialysis
Interactive Tool
India offers seven major government schemes for kidney disease and dialysis. Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY covers up to Rs. 5 lakhs annually, including free dialysis and kidney transplant costs. The Pradhan Mantri National Dialysis Programme provides free hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis to BPL patients at district hospitals. Rashtriya Arogya Nidhi and the Health Minister’s Discretionary Grant offer one-time financial aid, while PMBJP and NOTP support post-transplant medication costs. At Milaap, we have helped thousands of families crowdfund the gap these schemes leave behind, and this guide breaks down exactly what each one covers, who qualifies, and how to apply.
Chronic Kidney Disease affects 138 million Indians, and treatment costs escalate sharply as the disease progresses from diagnosis to dialysis to transplant. The good news is that several government schemes exist specifically to reduce this burden, though each one covers a different part of the journey, from transplant costs to dialysis to post-transplant medication. Here’s what each scheme covers and how to claim it.
⚡ Most government schemes require you to apply before initiating treatment. Read this guide before your first hospital visit.
Transplant Coverage
The schemes listed below provide financial assistance during a kidney transplant.
1. Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY / AB PM-JAY)
AB PM-JAY is India’s flagship public health assurance scheme, implemented by the National Health Authority. It provides Rs. 5 lakhs per eligible family per year for medical emergencies. While general organ transplants were originally excluded, renal (kidney) transplants and kidney care are now included to support underprivileged patients. Along with the annual cap and standard 3 days pre- and 15 days post-hospitalization expenses, the scheme covers both types of dialysis completely free of cost at empanelled hospitals. Any expenses exceeding the annual cap must be covered by the patient’s family.
2. Rashtriya Arogya Nidhi (RAN)
Rashtriya Arogya Nidhi is a Central Sector Scheme under the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare that provides one-time financial assistance of Rs. 15 lakhs for major life-threatening diseases to Below Poverty Line (BPL) patients. The scheme covers Chronic Kidney Disease and dialysis, since kidney failure is legally classified as a life-threatening condition. Coverage applies only if the patient is treated at a designated super-speciality government hospital. Since it is a one-time grant, once the Rs. 15 lakhs is exhausted, RAN cannot be claimed again by the same beneficiary.
3. Health Minister's Cancer Patient Fund (HMCPF)
The Health Minister’s Discretionary Grant is a central government scheme similar to RAN, and is now integrated with RAN on the NHA’s IT platform for faster processing. It provides up to Rs. 1.25 lakh for poor patients whose family income doesn’t exceed Rs. 1.25 lakh, for use when free treatment isn’t available at government hospitals. Since the scheme excludes long-term recurring expenses, HMDG is typically used to cover one-time interventions like a kidney transplant or vascular access surgery.
Dialysis
Pradhan Mantri National Dialysis Programme (PMNDP)
PMNDP, launched by the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare in 2016 and run through the National Health Mission, provides completely free renal dialysis sessions for BPL beneficiaries, and subsidized dialysis at an affordable rate for non-BPL patients, across district hospitals in India. It supports both Hemodialysis and Peritoneal Dialysis. Any Indian citizen suffering from End-Stage Renal Disease can access it, with priority given to economically disadvantaged patients. Patients must visit their nearest district hospital or PMNDP centre to enrol.
Post-Transplant Medication Support
1. Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP)
PMBJP is a flagship public welfare campaign run by the Department of Pharmaceuticals, Government of India, through its official portal janaushadhi.gov.in. It provides quality generic medicines at highly affordable prices to all citizens, including essential immunosuppressant drugs for CKD and post-transplant patients. Purchasing these drugs through the scheme can reduce overall monthly medication expenses by 50% to 80%. Medicines can only be purchased in person from authorized Jan Aushadhi Kendras.
2. National Organ Transplant Programme (NOTP)
NOTP, run by the National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation (NOTTO) under the Directorate General of Health Services, primarily promotes deceased organ donation and transplant access across the country. It also explicitly facilitates post-transplant immunosuppressant medication support, providing a monthly stipend of Rs. 10,000 per patient for three years. Eligibility requires the transplant to have been conducted in a government or public sector hospital, and the patient to be below the poverty line.
Diagnosis - Free Diagnostics Service Initiative (FDSI)
FDSI is a flagship programme under the National Health Mission that provides essential pathological and radiological tests free of cost at public health facilities. The scheme has no income, caste, or socio-economic eligibility criteria, making it free for all beneficiaries who visit government facilities for consultation. It guarantees a set number of free diagnostic tests based on facility level, ranging from 14 tests at Sub Centres to 134 tests at District Hospitals.
Organ-Related Support - National Organ Transplant Programme (NOTP)
NOTP also helps streamline renal transplants for CKD patients by establishing a structured waiting list, legalizing transparent organ allocation policies, and subsidizing medical care costs. It is designed to transition eligible patients from life-sustaining dialysis to a transplant solution through these coordinated mechanisms.
How Much Does Kidney Disease Treatment Actually Cost?
Even with these schemes in place, it helps to know how costs typically escalate by stage, since this determines how much of the burden a scheme like PM-JAY or RAN will actually absorb.
Kidney transplants and post-transplant immunosuppressants add further cost on top of this, and indirect and non-medical expenses (travel, caregiver time off work, accommodation near a treatment centre) can quietly wipe out a family’s savings even when a scheme is covering the core treatment. This is the gap we see most often at Milaap: government schemes absorb the procedure cost, but not the surrounding cost of getting through a multi-year illness.
How Families Raise Funds for Kidney Disease Treatment on Milaap
Even with insurance and government schemes, most families face a gap. Here is what we have seen work — and what makes the difference between campaigns that raise enough and those that fall short.
Crowdfunding works best when it starts early and leads with the human story rather than the medical one. A campaign that says “my father kidneys have failed” raises less than one that shows who he is, what the family has already done, and what recovery means for them. Donors give to people, not diagnoses.
What every Milaap campaign gets:
- Zero Platform Fees
- Fast Withdrawals
- Employer Matching Benefits
- A dedicated campaign manager for story, media, and outreach
- Frequent beneficiary/project updates via email and WhatsApp
The families who raise the most start their campaign before admission — not after. Starting early gives donors time to share and give.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, the AB PM-JAY card fully covers kidney dialysis, including both hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis, at empanelled public and private hospitals across India.
Under PMNDP, beneficiaries can receive completely cashless treatment, including the dialysis sessions themselves, required consumables, pre-dialysis evaluations, and essential related medicines.
Register under PMNDP at a participating government facility, which provides 100% cashless treatment for Below Poverty Line patients.
Visit the helpdesk of your nearest government District Hospital with your Aadhaar Card, a BPL Ration card, and a doctor’s dialysis prescription. Hospital staff will link your details to a digital ABHA ID, verify eligibility on the spot, and book your regular, cashless dialysis slots.
Eligibility is based on SECC 2011 data, not an open application process. Visit the official NHA beneficiary portal or your nearest Common Service Centre to check if your family is listed. If eligible, visit an empanelled hospital or CSC with your Aadhaar card and Ration Card to complete e-KYC and generate your card.
Yes, medical testing is completely free for all patients visiting public health facilities under FDSI.
In India, a kidney transplant generally costs between Rs. 5 lakhs and Rs. 10 lakhs in private hospitals, plus ongoing monthly immunosuppressant medication costs of Rs. 10,000 to Rs. 20,000. Under Ayushman Bharat, specific kidney transplant packages are available cashlessly at empanelled tertiary care hospitals.
Dialysis is usually not recommended where the procedure would cause more harm than benefit, such as in patients with terminal, advanced multi-organ failure where dialysis won’t improve survival or quality of life. This should always be assessed by a treating nephrologist.
Stage 3 CKD generally cannot be fully reversed, as the structural kidney damage is permanent. It can, however, be managed with strict blood pressure and diabetes control, a kidney-friendly diet, and proper medication, which can prevent progression to Stage 4 or Stage 5.
Yes. BPL patients receive free dialysis, medicines, and consumables at government district hospitals under PMNDP. For advanced treatment like kidney transplants and surgeries, Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY provides cashless coverage of up to Rs. 5 lakhs per year at empanelled hospitals.
Success Stories
Families Who Raised on Milaap
Hear directly from families who funded their treatment through crowdfunding
Need Help Funding Your Kidney Disease Treatment?
Our fundraising experts have helped lakhs of families launch and run successful medical fundraising campaigns. Book a free consultation today.
- Free 1:1 call with crowdfunding expert
- Campaign live in under 10 minutes
- 0% platform fee
- Dedicated fundraising manager assigned
Request a Free Callback
Our team will contact you shortly
🔒 Your details are 100% private & never shared
Need help raising funds for a medical emergency?
Start a fundraiser