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One-time financial assistance of up to Rs. 15 lakh is provided for the treatment of poor patients, suffering from cancer under the Health Minister’s Cancer Patient Fund (HMCPF) component of the Umbrella Scheme of Rashtriya Arogya Nidhi (RAN), who are living below State/UT-wise threshold poverty line (offline mode) and also for the treatment of those poor patients who belong to those States/UTs the National Food Security Act (NFSA) data of which is integrated on National Health Authority (NHA)’s IT platform (online mode).

Patients can apply for financial assistance under the Umbrella Scheme of RAN through either offline or online modes. Offline submission of applications can be made through any Government hospital by patients belonging to those States/UTs, the NFSA data of which is not integrated on the National Health Authority (NHA)’s IT platform. For online mode (for States/UTs which are integrated on NHA’s IT platform), the Government hospital generates the RAN ID of the eligible patient and, subsequently, the application is processed further through the Transaction Management System (TMS). Upon approval, confirmation is sent to the bank for reserving the funds for the patient, and treatment commences. Antyodaya beneficiaries from States/UTs where the National Food Security Act (NFSA) data has been integrated with the National Health Authority’s (NHA) IT platform, as well as Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY) beneficiaries requiring treatment not covered under AB PM-JAY, are eligible to avail benefits under the Umbrella Scheme of Rashtriya Arogya Nidhi (RAN) through the online mode.

Financial assistance for eligible patients is released to the treating hospitals/institutes. Since the funds are released on a case-by-case basis in both online and offline modes, State/ UT-wise data is not maintained centrally. An amount of Rs. 27.06 Crores was disbursed under the Umbrella Scheme of RAN, which includes a component of HMCPF in 2024-25. A total of 134 poor patients have benefited through the said scheme in 2025-2026 (till 16.07.2025) with an amount of Rs. 9.14 Crores disbursed.

Offline applications are required to be in the prescribed proforma, duly signed by the treating doctor and countersigned by the Medical Superintendent of the Government hospital, along with the Income Certificate and Ration Card of the family is required to be submitted for seeking financial assistance under RAN. Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) ration card and Aadhaar card are required for processing of applications through online mode. The process of cases under RAN involves various stages of action, i.e. scrutiny of the application, placing the matter before the Technical Committee, for administrative and financial approvals.

The financial assistance is provided for treatment of the patients at Regional Cancer Centres (RCCs)/Tertiary Care Cancer Centres (TCCCs), State Cancer Institutes (SCIs), and other government hospitals/institutes having cancer treatment facilities.

More information on the Umbrella Scheme of Rashtriya Arogya Nidhi can be accessed at the link: https://mohfw.gov.in/?q=en/Major-Programmes/poor-patients-financial-support

The Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Shri Prataprao Jadhav, stated this in a written reply in the Lok Sabha today.

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MV

HFW/ Steps taken to assist cancer patients under RAN/08 August 2025/3

 

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