May 6 (Reuters) - German healthcare group Fresenius reported a better-than-expected first-quarter net income on Thursday thanks to improvement at its dialysis unit, growth of drugmaking business in emerging markets and government aid supporting its hospital unit.

Fresenius' first-quarter net income dropped 2% to 435 million euros ($522.00 million) on a currency-adjusted basis, above analysts' average forecast for a currency-adjusted net income of 411 million euros in a company-provided poll.

The group confirmed its 2021 guidance for sales growth in a low-to-mid single-digit percentage range and an at least broadly stable net income. ($1 = 0.8333 euros) (Reporting by Zuzanna Szymanska and Antonis Pothitos in Gdansk Editing by Tomasz Janowski)