Question : Rashtriya Aarogya Nidhi

Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Government has launched Rashtriya Aarogya Nidhi Scheme for patients below poverty line, if so, the details and the objectives of the scheme;

(b) the number of diseases identified under the scheme for extending financial assistance;

(c) whether the Government proposes to bring more diseases under the scheme, if so, the details thereof; and

(d) the total financial allocation made under the scheme and the funds utilised during each of the last three years?

ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND
FAMILY WELFARE
(SHRI ASHWINI KUMAR CHOUBEY)
(a) to (d): The Government is implementing Umbrella Scheme of Rashtriya Arogya Nidhi to provide financial assistance to poor patients belonging to families living blow State/UT-wise threshold poverty line. The scheme has following three components:

I. Health Minister’s Cancer Patient Fund – to provide financial assistance to poor patients suffering from Cancer.
II. Rashtriya Arogya Nidhi – to provide financial assistance to poor patients suffering from life threatening diseases other than Cancer.
III. Rare Disease - to provide financial assistance to poor patients suffering from specified rare diseases.

The diseases identified under the Umbrella Scheme of Rashtriya Arogya Nidhi are at Annexure. The Technical Committee constituted under the Scheme, inter-alia, advises the Government in enlisting of diseases from time to time.
Allocation made and funds released under the scheme during the last three years is as follows:-
(In Rs. crore)
Year Allocation Release
2016-17 22.00 22.00
2017-18 30.00 30.00
2018-19 54.50 51.75