Daily Current Affairs : 24-July-2023
In an effort to provide accessible and affordable healthcare to the underprivileged, the Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare introduced the Rashtriya Arogya Nidhi (RAN) scheme. This central sector scheme aims to offer one-time financial assistance to impoverished patients who are below the state or union territory’s threshold poverty line and are suffering from life-threatening diseases. The scheme covers a range of life-threatening illnesses, including heart, kidney, and liver diseases, cancer, and specified rare diseases.
Understanding the Scheme
The Rashtriya Arogya Nidhi (RAN) scheme encompasses three components, each targeting specific health conditions and providing financial aid for treatment:
- Rashtriya Arogya Nidhi (RAN) Component
- This component offers financial assistance for the treatment of life-threatening diseases, such as heart, kidney, and liver ailments, at government hospitals and institutes equipped with super specialty facilities.
- The scheme aims to ensure that even the economically disadvantaged can access quality medical care in the country.
- Patients eligible for this assistance must be living below the state or union territory’s poverty line.
- Health Minister’s Cancer Patient Fund (HMCPF) Component
- Under this component, financial aid is extended to patients undergoing cancer treatment at Regional Cancer Centres, Tertiary Care Cancer Centres, and State Cancer Institutes.
- Cancer treatment can be expensive, making it particularly challenging for financially constrained individuals to afford. The HMCPF aims to alleviate the financial burden and make cancer care more accessible to those in need.
- The maximum financial assistance available for cancer treatment is Rs. 15 lakhs.
- Financial Assistance for Rare Diseases Component
- This component focuses on providing financial support to poor patients suffering from specified rare diseases. Treatment for rare diseases is often highly specialized and costly.
- The scheme allows eligible patients to seek treatment at government hospitals and institutes equipped with super specialty facilities, ensuring they receive the necessary medical attention.
- The maximum financial assistance available for rare disease treatment is Rs. 20 lakhs.
Benefits of Rashtriya Arogya Nidhi (RAN)
The RAN scheme plays a crucial role in transforming the healthcare landscape for the underprivileged in India. Some of the key benefits of the scheme include:
- Improved Access to Quality Healthcare
- The RAN scheme removes financial barriers, enabling impoverished patients to access treatment at renowned government hospitals and institutes with advanced medical facilities.
- This improves the chances of recovery and ensures that patients receive the best possible care for their life-threatening conditions.
- Alleviating Financial Burden
- Life-threatening diseases, especially cancer and rare diseases, often lead to exorbitant medical expenses that can push families into poverty.
- The financial assistance provided by the RAN scheme helps mitigate the burden of medical costs, allowing patients to focus on their recovery without worrying about financial strain.
- Addressing Healthcare Inequality
- Healthcare inequality has been a longstanding issue in India, with many unable to afford adequate medical treatment.
- The RAN scheme takes a step towards addressing this disparity by providing support to those most in need, irrespective of their economic background.
Important Points:
- Rashtriya Arogya Nidhi (RAN) is a central sector scheme in India.
- It provides one-time financial assistance to poor patients living below the state/UT’s poverty line suffering from life-threatening diseases.
- The scheme covers treatments for heart, kidney, liver diseases, cancer, and specified rare diseases.
- Financial assistance is available for treatment at government hospitals/institutes with super specialty facilities.
- There are three components under RAN:
- Rashtriya Arogya Nidhi (RAN) offers a maximum of Rs. 15 lakhs for life-threatening diseases.
- Health Minister’s Cancer Patient Fund (HMCPF) provides a maximum of Rs. 15 lakhs for cancer treatment.
- Financial assistance for poor patients with rare diseases, up to Rs. 20 lakhs.
- RAN aims to improve access to quality healthcare for the economically disadvantaged.
- The scheme alleviates the financial burden of medical expenses, especially for cancer and rare disease treatments.
- It helps address healthcare inequality by providing support to those most in need, regardless of their economic background.
Why In News
The Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, in a detailed address to the Lok Sabha, shed light on the transformative impact of Rashtra Aarogya Nidhi, an essential healthcare initiative aimed at providing financial assistance to underprivileged individuals in need of medical treatment. The Minister also emphasized the government’s commitment to ensuring accessible and affordable healthcare for all citizens through this crucial welfare scheme.
MCQs about The Rashtriya Arogya Nidhi Scheme
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What is the main objective of the Rashtriya Arogya Nidhi (RAN) scheme?
A. Providing financial assistance to wealthy patients
B. Offering one-time support to poor patients with life-threatening diseases
C. Focusing on rare disease treatments exclusively
D. Promoting private hospitals and institutes
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Which of the following components of the RAN scheme provides financial assistance for cancer treatment?
A. Rashtriya Arogya Nidhi (RAN)
B. Health Minister’s Cancer Patient Fund (HMCPF)
C. Financial assistance for poor patients suffering from rare diseases
D. All of the above
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What types of life-threatening diseases are covered under the Rashtriya Arogya Nidhi (RAN) scheme?
A. Cardiovascular diseases only
B. Kidney and liver diseases only
C. Cancer and specified rare diseases only
D. Heart, kidney, liver diseases, cancer, and specified rare diseases
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