Karnataka ranks second in govt dialysis centres, but emergency access a hurdle

Karnataka has 214 government dialysis centres under Pradhan Mantri National Dialysis Programme (PMNDP), the second-highest in India after Gujarat's 282.

PMNDP provides free haemodialysis at district hospitals; Karnataka has functional centres in all 31 districts and the state operates 215 centres with 1,200 machines.

Emergency dialysis access in Bengaluru is hindered by requirements for overnight admission at government hospitals and refusal by private hospitals for unregistered patients.

Patients needing unscheduled dialysis due to complications like fluid overload or high potassium struggle to find immediate care, delaying treatment.

A family reported being told at Victoria Hospital that their father must be admitted overnight before receiving dialysis, highlighting the access hurdle.