BS RAWAT

The central government is providing a one-time payment of Rs 15 lakh to economically backward patients suffering from rare diseases, which affect an estimated 70 million people in India, said Union Minister Ashwini Kumar Choubey.

In a recent written reply in the Rajya Sabha, Choubey said that patients belonging to BPL families are eligible for one time grant upto Rs 15 lakh for treatment of specified rare diseases in Government hospitals under the umbrella scheme of Rashtriya Arogya Nidhi (RAN).

Financial assistance under the rare diseases component of umbrella scheme of RAN has been provided as revolving funds to All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, for treatment of eligible patients, said Mr Choubey, Minister of State for Health.

State and UTs have been apprised about the scheme so that eligible poor patients could avail the financial assistance for treatment of life threatening diseases, the minister has informed.

Mr Choubey further informed that all details regarding the scheme, viz documents required, eligibility criteria, procedure and contact details for queries have also been placed on the Health Ministry’s website for wider dissemination and awareness.