Poor With Life-threatening Diseases Can Avail Rs. 5 Lakh Aid at Government Hospitals

BPL (Below Poverty Line) patients suffering from life-threatening diseases in India will now be able to get a financial assistance of Rs 5 lakh at hospitals under the central government.

Earlier, under the Rashtriya Arogya Nidhi (RAN), an aid of Rs 2 lakh was given to the category so that they could avail treatment at any of the government super specialty hospitals.

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"To further ease access to financial assistance under RAN, the government has decided to enhance the financial powers delegated to designated central government hospitals and institutes from Rs 2 lakh to Rs 5 lakh for providing financial assistance in cases where emergency surgery is to be conducted," a Health Ministry statement said.

Revolving funds have been set up in 12 government-run healthcare centers and amount up to Rs. 50 lakh is placed at their disposal for providing financial assistance.

"This would also enable to curtail the procedural delay for treatment, which would bring relief to thousands of patients annually," the statement said.

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The central government also provides financial assistance through the Health Minister's Cancer Patient Fund (HMCPF). The scheme provides a financial assistance to the poor patients in 27 Regional Cancer Centers (RCCs).

RCCs are cancer care hospitals and research institutes operating in India under the joint control and funding of the Government of India and the respective state governments. The present number of RCCs is more than 25 and the center is planning to assign RCC status to more regional cancer healthcare centers

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Source-Medindia

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