Rashtriya Arogya Nidhi

The Rashtriya Arogya Nidhi (RAN) is a Central Government health assistance scheme established to provide financial support to poor patients who are suffering from life-threatening diseases and require expensive medical treatment in government hospitals across India. It operates under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) and aims to ensure that no individual is denied essential medical care due to financial hardship.

Background and Establishment

• Launched: 1997
• Administered by: Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India
• Head Office: Nirman Bhawan, New Delhi
• Nature: A Central Sector Scheme

The scheme was created to assist Below Poverty Line (BPL) families by funding treatments for major diseases such as cancer, cardiac disorders, kidney failure, brain surgery, and other serious ailments that require costly procedures.

Objectives of the Scheme

1. Financial Assistance: To provide one-time financial support to patients living below the poverty line for treatment of life-threatening diseases.
2. Equitable Healthcare Access: To bridge the gap between rich and poor by enabling indigent patients to avail treatment in super-specialty government hospitals/institutes.
3. Support to State Governments: To decentralise health assistance through State Illness Assistance Funds (SIAFs), helping states cater to local healthcare needs.
4. Special Category Support: To provide additional assistance for children suffering from congenital and rare diseases through special sub-programmes.

Structure of Rashtriya Arogya Nidhi

The scheme operates through two main components:

1. National Illness Assistance Fund (NIAF):
   • Operates at the central level.
   • Provides financial assistance directly to individual patients for treatment in Central Government hospitals/institutes such as AIIMS, PGIMER, and JIPMER.
2. State Illness Assistance Fund (SIAF):
   • Operates at the state/UT level.
   • Provides matching grants to states and union territories to set up similar funds for treatment in state-run hospitals.

Eligibility Criteria

• The applicant must be a citizen of India.
• The patient’s family should belong to the Below Poverty Line (BPL) category.
• The disease must be life-threatening and require specialised treatment in a government-run super-specialty hospital.
• The assistance is available only for treatment in government institutions (not in private hospitals).

Diseases Covered

The RAN covers treatment for major life-threatening diseases that require high-cost procedures. These include:

• Cancer and oncology treatments
• Cardiac (heart) diseases and surgeries
• Kidney transplantation and dialysis
• Liver diseases and transplantation
• Neurological disorders and neurosurgery
• Bone marrow transplantation
• Thalassemia and blood disorders
• Burns and plastic surgery (for severe cases)

Financial Assistance Provided

• Quantum of assistance:
  • Up to ₹5 lakh per case, depending on the nature of the disease and treatment cost.
  • For exceptionally expensive treatments, the Ministry may approve additional assistance on a case-by-case basis.
• The funds are released directly to the concerned hospital or institution, not to the patient or family.

Special Programmes under RAN

1. Health Minister’s Discretionary Grant (HMDG):
   • Provides financial assistance up to ₹1.25 lakh to poor patients for treatment in government hospitals.
2. RAN Scheme for Children:
   • Introduced to provide financial assistance to children below 18 years of age suffering from rare or congenital diseases, such as congenital heart disorders or bone marrow diseases.
3. Decentralised Illness Funds:
   • States and union territories are encouraged to establish their own Illness Assistance Funds, partly supported by central grants.

Implementation Mechanism

1. Application Process:
   • The patient or guardian applies to the Medical Superintendent of the concerned government hospital with proof of income (BPL certificate), medical reports, and treatment estimate.
   • The hospital verifies eligibility and forwards the application to the RAN Secretariat at the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
2. Scrutiny and Approval:
   • A Technical Committee reviews the application and recommends financial support.
   • Upon approval, funds are released directly to the hospital for the patient’s treatment.
3. Monitoring:
   • Regular review of fund utilisation by the Ministry.
   • Beneficiaries are tracked to ensure that the funds are used for the intended purpose.

Key Institutions Covered

The Rashtriya Arogya Nidhi extends assistance for treatment in major Central Government hospitals, including:

• All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi
• Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh
• Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research (JIPMER), Puducherry
• Safdarjung Hospital, New Delhi
• Lady Hardinge Medical College, New Delhi
• National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS), Bengaluru
• And other central government super-specialty institutions.

Funding Pattern

• The scheme is fully funded by the Central Government.
• For decentralised implementation under SIAF, the Centre and States share the cost on a 50:50 basis (100% for Union Territories).
• The Ministry of Health allocates annual budgetary provisions for RAN and monitors disbursements through the respective hospitals.

Achievements

• Provided financial relief to thousands of poor patients since its inception.
• Enhanced access to advanced medical care for economically weaker sections.
• Promoted equity in healthcare by bridging financial barriers for treatment of critical illnesses.
• Enabled several states to establish their own illness assistance funds.

Challenges

1. Awareness Gap:
   • Limited public awareness about the availability and procedure of RAN.
2. Administrative Delays:
   • Slow processing and approval of applications in certain cases.
3. Limited Hospital Network:
   • Benefits confined mainly to central and state government hospitals.
4. Inadequate Funding:
   • Increasing cost of medical treatments requires periodic revision of assistance limits.
5. Verification Process:
   • Difficulty in identifying genuine BPL beneficiaries in some regions.

Importance of Rashtriya Arogya Nidhi

• Ensures that poverty does not become a barrier to life-saving medical treatment.
• Supports the goal of Universal Health Coverage (UHC) by strengthening the social safety net for vulnerable populations.
• Complements other national health initiatives like Ayushman Bharat – Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY).
• Reflects the government’s commitment to inclusive and equitable healthcare.