Dialysis Unit Setup Cost in India: Equipment, Running Costs and Approvals
Setting up a dialysis unit means more than buying machines. This guide breaks down the equipment cost for a 4-machine unit, the running costs per session, and the approvals most units need.
How much does a dialysis unit cost to set up in India? Using published 2026 figures, a 4-machine haemodialysis unit needs roughly Rs 37 lakh to Rs 49 lakh for core equipment: about Rs 29 to 36 lakh for four mid-range dialysis machines, plus about Rs 8 to 13 lakh for the RO water plant, chairs, power backup, dialyser reprocessing and emergency equipment. Building work, air conditioning, staff and licences are extra.
Dialysis Unit Setup Cost: Equipment Breakdown
The figures below are for a small 4-machine haemodialysis unit, the size many nursing homes and mid-sized hospitals start with. They come from published Indian price guides (sources at the end), are indicative and usually exclude GST.
| Item | Typical cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Haemodialysis machines (4) | Rs 28.8 lakh to Rs 35.6 lakh | Mid-range models listed at about Rs 7.2 to 8.9 lakh each; the full new-machine range is Rs 5 to 25 lakh |
| Double-pass RO water plant (500 to 1000 LPH) | Rs 2.8 lakh to Rs 4.5 lakh | Medical-grade water is essential for patient safety |
| Dialysis chairs or beds (4) | Rs 1.4 lakh to Rs 2.8 lakh | Motorised chairs or multi-function beds |
| UPS / generator backup (10 to 15 kVA) | Rs 1.5 lakh to Rs 2.2 lakh | A session must not stop in a power cut |
| Dialyser reprocessing system | Rs 1.2 lakh to Rs 2 lakh | Only if you reuse dialysers |
| Crash cart, suction and patient monitor | Rs 80,000 to Rs 1.5 lakh | For emergencies during treatment |
| Core equipment total | about Rs 37 lakh to Rs 49 lakh | Sum of the rows above |
Not included: civil and interior work, plumbing and drainage for the RO plant, air conditioning, beds for recovery, IT and billing, staff salaries, and the first stock of consumables.
Running Costs After Setup
- Consumables per session: about Rs 1,100 to Rs 1,800 for the dialyser, bloodlines, fistula needles and concentrate, depending on single-use or reprocessing
- Staff: a supervising nephrologist, dialysis technicians and nurses for every shift
- Water testing: regular chemical and microbiological testing of RO water
- Maintenance: AMC or CMC for machines and the RO plant once warranties end
- Power and water: each session uses a large volume of treated water
For context, NephroPlus (October 2025) puts what patients pay at about Rs 1,000 to Rs 4,000 per session, with private centres usually charging Rs 1,800 to Rs 3,500.
Approvals and Planning Checklist
Requirements vary by state, so confirm with your local health authority. Most units in India need:
- Registration under the state's clinical establishments law
- Biomedical waste authorisation from the State Pollution Control Board
- Fire safety clearance for the building
- A supervising nephrologist and trained dialysis technicians and nurses
- A separate machine and area for hepatitis B positive patients
- A written water-quality testing and machine disinfection schedule
Under the Pradhan Mantri National Dialysis Programme, started in 2016, many district hospitals run dialysis units in partnership with private operators, which is another route to setting up a unit.
How to Size Your Unit
Most patients need dialysis two to three times a week, about four hours each time. A machine running two to three shifts a day, six days a week, can serve roughly 6 to 9 patients. Start from the number of patients you expect in your area, add one machine for hepatitis B positive patients, and leave space to add machines later.
Pulse Renal Care for New Dialysis Units
Pulse supplies the core renal care equipment a new unit needs, from one manufacturer:
- PDM-6000 Precision Haemodialysis System: the dialysis machine
- Dialysers: for every session
- Session consumables: PD-Linepro blood tubing sets, PD-Canova AV fistula needles, transducer protectors and haemodialysis catheters
For hospitals setting up several departments at once, see our hospital setup checklist.
Key Facts at a Glance
- Core equipment for a 4-machine dialysis unit costs about Rs 37 lakh to Rs 49 lakh, based on published 2026 figures.
- A double-pass RO plant (500 to 1000 LPH) costs about Rs 2.8 lakh to Rs 4.5 lakh.
- New haemodialysis machines cost about Rs 5 lakh to Rs 25 lakh each.
- Consumables cost about Rs 1,100 to Rs 1,800 per session.
- Patients pay about Rs 1,000 to Rs 4,000 per session (NephroPlus, October 2025).
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to set up a dialysis unit in India?
Using published 2026 figures, a 4-machine haemodialysis unit needs roughly Rs 37 lakh to Rs 49 lakh for core equipment: about Rs 29 lakh to Rs 36 lakh for four mid-range machines plus about Rs 8 lakh to Rs 13 lakh for the RO plant, chairs, power backup, reprocessing and emergency equipment. Building work, HVAC, staff and licences are extra.
How much does a dialysis RO plant cost?
A medical-grade double-pass RO water treatment plant of 500 to 1000 litres per hour costs about Rs 2.8 lakh to Rs 4.5 lakh, according to a September 2026 Indian setup guide.
What is the price of one dialysis machine in India?
New haemodialysis machines cost about Rs 5 lakh to Rs 25 lakh, and refurbished machines about Rs 2 lakh to Rs 5 lakh. Commonly used mid-range models are listed at about Rs 7.2 lakh to Rs 8.9 lakh.
What is the consumable cost per dialysis session?
Consumables (dialyser, bloodlines, needles, concentrate) cost about Rs 1,100 to Rs 1,800 per session, depending on whether dialysers are single-use or reprocessed.
What do patients pay per dialysis session in India?
NephroPlus (October 2025) puts haemodialysis at about Rs 1,000 to Rs 4,000 per session: around Rs 500 to Rs 1,500 at government-aided centres and Rs 1,800 to Rs 3,500 at private centres.
What approvals are needed to start a dialysis centre in India?
Typically registration under your state's clinical establishments law, biomedical waste authorisation from the State Pollution Control Board, fire safety clearance, and a supervising nephrologist with trained dialysis technicians and nurses. Requirements vary by state, so confirm with your local health authority.
Why do dialysis units need separate machines for hepatitis patients?
To prevent cross-infection, patients who are positive for hepatitis B are dialysed on dedicated machines, usually in a separate area. Plan at least one extra machine for this when you size the unit.
How do I get a quote for a Pulse dialysis machine?
Message Pulse on WhatsApp at +91 90711 01108 with the number of machines, your city and whether you also need dialysers and setup support, and the team will share a quote.
Sources
- Dialysis Machine Price in India (2026) and Dialysis Unit Setup Guide (SMD Medicare, September 2026): RO plant, chairs, power backup, reprocessing, emergency equipment, model list prices and per-session consumables
- Understanding the Cost of Kidney Dialysis in India (NephroPlus, October 2025): what patients pay per session
- Dialysis Machine Price in India (Pulse): new and refurbished machine price ranges and their sources
- Pulse PDM-6000 product sheet: machine details