Why is it in the news?
- The Delhi High Court has criticized the Rashtriya Arogya Nidhi (RAN) scheme’s new threshold income requirement as “extremely low.”
- The scheme, aimed at providing financial assistance to economically disadvantaged patients with life-threatening diseases, sets the monthly income threshold at ₹1,571 for rural areas and ₹1,605 for urban areas.
- The court’s concern underscores potential challenges for needy patients accessing the scheme’s benefits due to the perceived inadequacy of the income threshold.
| About RAN
· The Rashtriya Arogya Nidhi (RAN) scheme is provided by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. · It offers one-time financial assistance to economically disadvantaged patients suffering from life-threatening diseases like heart, kidney, liver, and cancer for treatment at designated Super Specialty Government hospitals/institutes. · RAN is categorized as a central sector scheme. Components: · Rashtriya Arogya Nidhi (RAN): Offers financial aid up to 15 lakhs for critical illness treatment at government hospitals or institutions with super specialty services. · Health Minister’s Cancer Patient Fund (HMCPF): Provides financial assistance up to 15 lakhs for cancer treatment at designated cancer care centres. · Financial Assistance for Patients with Rare Diseases: Allocates up to 20 lakhs for the treatment of specified rare diseases at government hospitals or institutes with super specialty facilities. |
