Affordable Treatment for Poor Patients  -  Cancer Hospitals in India  -  Counselling and Rehabilitation for Patients  -  Crowdfunding for Treatment Costs  -  Financial Help for Needy Patients  -  Accommodation for Patients and Kin  -  Free Food for Patients and Kin  -  Genetic Testing to Check Susceptibility  -  Govt Schemes for Cancer Treatment   -  Inspirational Books by Cancer Survivors  -  Integrative Holistic Cancer Care  -  Subsidised Medicines Prosthesis Wigs  -  Palliative Care for Terminal Patients  -  Second Opinion on Cancer Diagnosis  -  Support Groups for Cancer Patients  -  Vaccination to Protect from Cervical Cancer  -  

Assistance from Government is essential for poor & needy...

India has over 1 million cancer patients and a major chunk of them belong to weaker sections of society. Cancer treatment being an expensive proposition, schemes of Central and State Governments help in mitigating the financial burden to a certain extent, supplementing affordable treatment options and financial aid from NGOs. The recently launched ‘Ayushman Bharat - National Health Protection Scheme’ covering hospitalization expenses to the extent of Rs 5 Lakh per family per year will be of great benefit to poor citizens.

Our country does not have full-fledged, wide-spread and effective national cancer screening programmes. As a result, cancer is not detected at an early stage by most of the poor and especially those from rural areas. If a patient comes to the hospital at an early stage, an inexpensive simple surgery might cure him or her. But cancer detected at an advanced stage leads to high treatment cost. This is the double whammy faced by the underprivileged.

A wide range of schemes by Central & State Governments…

It may be noted that scheme features and terms applicable are subject to change and hence, you should refer to the Government websites for the latest information.

'Ayushman Bharat' and the other schemes are of great help to poor and deprived Indians numbering 100 million families or 500 million people, assuming an average family size of five people. 

All India

Health Minister's Discretionary Grant (HMDG)

Financial assistance varying from Rs 75,000 to Rs 1,25,000 is available under HMDG to patients having family annual income up to Rs.1,25,000/- and below to meet a part of the expenditure on cancer treatment in Government Hospitals, in cases where free medical facilities are not available. Fill up the form below and submit it with copies of income certificate and ration card.

Application for financial assistance

All India

Ayushman Bharat - Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY)

PM-JAY is intended for low-income persons viz. poor, deprived rural families and urban workers' families of specified occupations. Benefit cover is up to Rs 5 lakh per family per year for secondary & tertiary care hospitalisation. Pre-existing illnesses allowed. Portable across India. No cap on family size & age. Scheme is cashless & paperless at public hospitals & empanelled private hospitals. Prescribed ID to be submitted on arrival at hospital.

14555 or 1800-111-565

Click on this link to check whether you are eligible to join this scheme

All India

Cancer Patients Concession for Travel by Air

Offered by Air India. Only for those persons who are Resident of India and suffering from Cancer and are travelling for the purpose of medical check-up/treatment. 50% Discount will be applicable on economy fare.

www.airindia.in/cancer-patients-concession.htm

All India

Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS)

CGHS is applicable for serving and retired Central Government employees & dependents. Cancer treatment can be availed at approved rates from any hospital, apart from the hospitals set up under CGHS.

Web Page of Cancer Treatment Guidelines of CGHS

All India

Health Minister's Cancer Patient Fund (HMCPF) of Rashtriya Arogya Nidhi (RAN)

Up to Rs 2 Lakhs assistance would be available patients living below the poverty line and getting cancer treatment at one of 27 Regional Cancer Centers (RCCs) in the country. Processing would be done by the RCC concerned, on whose disposal revolving fund has been placed by Government.

Details of the scheme

All India

Railways: Facilities for Passengers who are Cancer Patients

Concession available for treatment/periodic checkup: PATIENT: (a) 100% concession in AC 3-tier/sleeper (b) 75% concession in 2nd class & AC chair car (c) 50% concession in AC-2 tier and AC 1st class. ATTENDANT: (a) 75% concession in AC 3-tier/sleeper, 2nd class, AC chair car (b) 50% concession in AC-2 tier & AC 1st class. Concessional tickets are issued on production of a certificate from the head of a cancer hospital or institute where the patient is being treated.

Web Page

Andhra Pradesh

Free Cancer Treatment Under Arogyasri Scheme of A.P. Govt

Cancer patients in Andhra Pradesh will get free treatment if their annual family income is below Rs 5 Lakh. All those below this income level are eligible to receive Arogyasri cards. The Andhra Pradesh government has tied up with over 150 super-specialty hospitals in across AP, Hyderabad, Chennai and Bangalore for rendering services under the Arogyasri scheme. The Government reimburses costs to the respective hospitals. An amount of Rs 225 per day is paid for post-surgery care.

Goa

'Mediclaim Scheme' of Directorate of Health Services

This scheme can be availed by permanent residents of Goa. Under the scheme, Mediclaim facility is available for Radiotherapy and Chemotherapy upto Rs 5 lakhs. Treatment to be undertaken in the hospitals in Goa and outside Goa, which are listed in PDF file.

0832-222 5540, 222 5646

PDF File

Jammu & Kashmir (Union Territory)

CTMFFP Scheme (Cancer Treatment & Management Fund for Poor)

Poor patients resident in J&K UT, whose family income does not exceed Rs.20,000 p.m. are eligible to receive financial assistance under the fund. Covers cancer treatment and management including surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy or a combination of these.

Web Page

Karnataka

Chief Minister's Relief Fund

Financial assistance is granted to poor patients suffering with deadly diseases. Only BPL category families are eligible. If the patient has already undergone treatment, he or she has to submit final bills and discharge summary. If treatment is yet to start, submit estimate from the concerned hospital for treatment.

Joint Secretary to the Chief Minister, Chief Minister's Relief Fund Section, # 242 / A, 2nd floor, Vidhana Soudha, Bangalore 560001

080-2203 3950, 2225 1792

cmrf.karnataka.gov.in/English/about.html

Kerala

'Cancer Suraksha' Scheme by Kerala Social Security Mission

This scheme is for children below 18 who suffer from cancer and belong to poor families. Patient Card will be issued to those eligible. Cost of treatment shall be borne by the hospitals through the funds provided by the Mission, subject to a ceiling of Rs 50,000 per child. Hospital can incur additional expenditure subject to approval by the Mission.

Poojappura, Thiruvananthapuram 695012

0471-234 1200, 234 6016

Web Page

Madhya Pradesh

'State Illness Assistance Fund' of Directorate of Health Services, Govt of M.P.

Any cancer diagnosed person domiciled in M.P. and is 'below poverty line' can apply. Assistance varies from Rs 25,000 to Rs 2,00,000. The approved amount will be directly paid to the Hospital. Fill up the form lying at offices of District Collector, District Chief Medical and Health Officer, District Civil Surgeon and District Hospital.

Web Page

Maharashtra

Chief Minister's Relief Fund (CMRF)

Aid given is Rs 50,000 for chemotherapy & dialysis, Rs 2 Lakhs for transplant-related surgeries and Rs 1 Lakh for other major surgeries. Only poor patients with annual income below Rs 1.6 Lakhs and who are not covered by any other state-sponsored health scheme, are eligible.

CMRF Cell, Mantralaya, Madam Cama Road, Mumbai 400032

Maharashtra

Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Jan Arogya Yojana

As per proposals to be implemented shortly, all expenses relating to hospitalization will be covered by the scheme upto Rs 5 Lakh per family per year, on floater basis. Patients can go to empanelled hospitals and seek treatment by showing their rations cars or AAY cards. Medical oncology, radiation oncology & surgical oncology are included. Please visit the website below for list of beneficiaries.

1800-233-2200, 155 388

www.jeevandayee.gov.in

Odisha

Free Chemotherapy Programme of Odisha Govt.

Free chemotherapy treatment is available for all poor cancer patients in Odisha. The treatemnt will be provided by district headquarters hospitals in all 30 districts, capital hospital and Ispat General Hospital (IGH) in Rourkela. The programme also includes free consultation at district headquarters hospitals.

Punjab

Mukh Mantri Punjab Cancer Raahat Kosh Scheme

This scheme in intended to provide financial assistance to Punjab resident cancer patients. Financial assistance of up to Rs 1.50 Lakhs is provided for the treatment to each cancer patient except Government employees, ESI employees and their dependents and patients who have health insurance or receive medical reimbursement.

mmpcrk.gov.in

Rajasthan

'Free Cancer Medicines' Scheme of Rajasthan Government

36 different types of cancer medicines are in the essential drug list for free distribution from Drug Distribution Counters (DDCs) set up in government-run selected hospitals in Rajasthan. These include chemotherapy drugs such as Imatinib, Melphalan and Cytarabine. The various drugs supplied free by DDCs cover treatment of leukaemia, breast cancer, ovarian cancer, non-small cell lung cancer, pancreatic cancer and bladder cancer.

Telangana

Aarogyasri Scheme

Under this scheme, 'Below Poverty Line' (BPL) families are eligible for free treatment upto Rs 5 Lacs for hospitalisation & surgery and upto Rs 10 Lacs for high-end procedures. Cancer treatments like surgery, chemo-therapy and radio-therapy are covered. Beneficiaries can go to any empaneled hospital and get treated without making any payment, subject to the annual ceiling.

Web Page

West Bengal

Free Cancer Treatment in Govt Hospitals

The West Bengal State Government has made the treatment of all types of cancer completely free in state-run hospitals and medical colleges. The service includes free medicine, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, surgical procedures and free beds.