Lok Sabha Question No. 187 (STARRED), answered on 2022-07-29
Subject: Rashtriya Arogya Nidhi
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: C.N. Annadurai, Gajanan Chandrakant Kirtikar

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 187 TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 29 TH  JULY, 2022

## RASHTRIYA AROGYA NIDHI

## *187. SHRI C.N. ANNADURAI: SHRI GAJANAN KIRTIKAR:

Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has been successful in implementing Rashtriya Arogya Nidhi (RAN) in the country;
- (b)  if  so,  the  details  thereof  along  with  the  number  of  beneficiaries  benefitted  under  the RAN during each of the last three years and current year, State/UT-wise including Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra;
- (c)  the  details  of  categories  of  diseases/treatment  for  which  funds  are  provided  from  the Nidhi along with the names of hospitals empanelled thereunder;
- (d) whether the Government proposes to include more diseases under the RAN and if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (e) whether financial assistance provided to hospitals/medical institutes is sufficient to meet the  entire  expenditure  incurred  on  the  treatment  of  BPL  persons  for  their  illness/disease; and
- (f) if so, the details thereof and if not, the corrective steps taken/being taken by Government in this regard?

## THE MINISTER OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

## ANSWER (DR MANSUKH MANDAVIYA)

- (a) to (  f) A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

## STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 187* FOR 29 TH  JULY, 2022

(a)  to  (f).  The  Ministry  of  Health  and  Family  Welfare  provides  financial  assistance  for treatment  of  poor  patients  suffering  from  identified  life  threatening  diseases  and  taking treatment in Government hospitals, under the Umbrella Scheme of Rashtriya Arogya Nidhi (RAN).

RAN has three components, namely (i) Rashtriya Arogya Nidhi (RAN) - to provide financial assistance to patients suffering from life threatening diseases other than Cancer, (ii)  Health  Minister's Cancer Patients Fund (HMCPF) - to provide financial assistance to patients suffering from Cancer; and (iii) Scheme for financial assistance upto Rs. 20 lakh for patients suffering from specified rare diseases. The scheme for financial assistance for patients  suffering  from  specified  rare  diseases  is  also  implemented  as  per  the  relevant provisions of National Policy for Rare Diseases, 2021.

Guidelines  regarding  implementation  of  Umbrella  Scheme  of  Rashtriya  Arogya Nidhi is available at https://main.mohfw.gov.in/Major-Programmes/poorpatientsfinancialassistance/rashtriya-arogya-nidhi.

Financial assistance for eligible patients is released to treating hospitals. There is no State/UT-wise/District-wise  allocation  of  funds  under  RAN  scheme.  Therefore,  Statewise/District-wise data is not maintained. However, the number of beneficiaries benefitted under the RAN during each of the last three years and current year are as under:

| Year                       | No. of beneficiary   |
|----------------------------|----------------------|
| 2019-20                    | 1159*                |
| 2020-21                    | 419*                 |
| 2021-22                    | 149*                 |
| 2022-23 (As on 26-07-2022) | 37*                  |

The details of categories of diseases/treatment for which funds are provided from the RAN  are  indicated  in  the  guidelines.  All  Government  hospitals  having  super-speciality facilities are eligible under the scheme/Nidhi.

There is a technical committee which advises the Government in enlisting of diseases covered  under  Umbrella  scheme  of  RAN.  Further,  any  life  saving  procedure/any  other major illness/treatment/intervention not covered under any of the components of Umbrella Scheme of RAN and recommended by the Technical Committee could be considered for financial assistance.