Health Minister’s Cancer Patient Fund
The Health Minister’s Cancer Patient Fund offers financial aid for cancer treatment to low-income patients.
Key facts
| Assistance | Up to ₹5,00,000 per patient at the Regional Cancer Centre; larger amounts referred to the Ministry — confirm the current limit |
|---|---|
| For | Below-Poverty-Line (BPL) patients diagnosed with cancer |
| Where | Any of the 27 Regional Cancer Centres (RCCs) |
| Under | Rashtriya Arogya Nidhi (RAN), Ministry of Health & Family Welfare |
| Not for | Central / state government and public-sector (PSU) employees |
| Key documents | BPL / ration card + income certificate; form signed by the treating doctor and Medical Superintendent |
| Important | No reimbursement for costs incurred before the application |
| Running since | 2009 |
| Application window | Apply as soon as cancer is diagnosed and treatment begins at a Regional Cancer Centre — the fund does not cover expenses incurred before your application is submitted. |
Benefits
Beneficiaries can receive a one-time financial assistance of up to ₹2,00,000 for cancer treatment. This amount is processed through designated Regional Cancer Centres.
Full guide
What the fund does
The Health Minister’s Cancer Patient Fund (HMCPF) helps poor patients meet the cost of cancer treatment. It sits under the Rashtriya Arogya Nidhi run by the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, and has operated since 2009. Help is given to below-poverty-line patients being treated at one of the country’s 27 Regional Cancer Centres — so the first step is to be under treatment at a recognised RCC.
How much you can get
A revolving fund (of up to ₹50 lakh) is placed with each Regional Cancer Centre so it can release money quickly. From this fund, an RCC can sanction assistance per patient — commonly cited as up to ₹5,00,000 — and cases that need more are referred to the Ministry, which can approve higher amounts. Older notices mentioned a ₹2 lakh ceiling; because the limits have been revised, always confirm the current figure with the RCC or on mohfw.gov.in before you plan around it.
Who is eligible
The fund is meant for patients living below the poverty line who have been diagnosed with cancer. Central and state government employees, and employees of public-sector undertakings, are not eligible — they have their own medical schemes. A valid BPL proof / income certificate is central to the claim, so arrange it early.
How to apply
Get the prescribed application form, have it filled and signed by your treating doctor, and countersigned by the Medical Superintendent of the hospital or RCC. Attach your income certificate and an attested ration / BPL card. For amounts within the RCC’s revolving fund the centre itself sanctions the assistance; larger requests are forwarded to the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare. Apply early — the fund does not reimburse costs you paid before the application was submitted.
Documents you need
- Application form signed by the treating doctor and countersigned by the Medical Superintendent
- Income certificate from the competent authority
- Attested copy of the ration / BPL card
- Cancer diagnosis and treatment records from the RCC
- Aadhaar and bank account details
Who can apply
- poor household
This fund is available to patients living below the poverty line who are diagnosed with cancer. Central and state government employees, as well as employees of public sector undertakings, are not eligible for this assistance.
Who is not eligible
- Central / state government and public-sector (PSU) employees
- Patients who are above the BPL threshold (not below the poverty line)
- Treatment taken outside the 27 Regional Cancer Centres
- Expenses incurred before the date the application is submitted
How to apply
To apply for assistance, patients must complete a prescribed application form and submit it along with required documents.
- Download the application form from the official website.
- Fill out the application form completely.
- Get the form signed by the treating doctor and countersigned by the Medical Superintendent.
- Prepare the required documents, including an income certificate and an attested copy of the Ration Card.
- Submit the completed application form and documents to the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare in New Delhi.
Documents required
- Application form signed by treating doctor and countersigned by Medical Superintendent
- Income certificate from relevant authority
- Attested copy of Ration Card
Common problems and how to fix them
| Problem | What to do |
|---|---|
| Told the ceiling is only ₹2 lakh | Each RCC holds a revolving fund and can sanction more per patient (commonly cited up to ₹5 lakh; larger cases go to the Ministry). Ask the RCC’s medical social worker for the current limit. |
| The application is moving slowly | Amounts within the RCC’s own revolving fund are sanctioned by the RCC itself, which is faster than cases that must be referred to the Ministry. |
| No BPL / income proof yet | A valid income certificate or BPL proof is essential. Get it from the competent authority before submitting, or the application cannot be processed. |
| Want bills from before the application reimbursed | That is not allowed — only costs incurred after the application date are covered. Apply early, before major expenses. |
Frequently asked questions
Who is eligible for financial assistance under this fund?
Patients living below the poverty line and suffering from cancer are eligible for assistance, while government employees are excluded.
What documents are required to apply?
Applicants need to submit a signed application form, an income certificate, and an attested copy of their Ration Card.
How long does it take to process the application?
The application is typically processed within one month if all documents are complete.
Can I get reimbursement for medical expenses already incurred?
Reimbursement is allowed for expenses incurred after the application is submitted, but not for costs incurred before that.
How much financial assistance can a patient receive?
Each patient can receive up to ₹2,00,000, with higher amounts requiring special approval.
How much financial help can a patient get?
Up to ₹5,00,000 per patient from the Regional Cancer Centre’s revolving fund; larger amounts are referred to the Ministry. Confirm the current limit with the RCC.
Who is eligible?
Below-poverty-line patients diagnosed with cancer. Government and PSU employees are not eligible.
Where is the treatment given?
At one of the 27 Regional Cancer Centres (RCCs) recognised under the scheme.
Can old bills be reimbursed?
No — only expenses incurred after the application is submitted are covered.
Who signs the application?
The treating doctor fills it, and the Medical Superintendent of the hospital / RCC countersigns it.
Always confirm the latest details on the official portal before applying.
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