Health Ministry raises eligible income limit for HMDG to 1 lakh

January 18, 2013

Extending more help to people who do not fall under the Below the Poverty Line (BPL) category, the Health Ministry has raised the criterion of annual income from Rs. 75,000 to 1,00,000, to be eligible for the Health Minister’s Discretionary Grant (HMDG). The ministry has also increased the financial limit for treatment. The Union Ministry has also expanded the list of diseases for treatment of which financial assistance is provided.

What are the main provisions under HMDG? What are the new areas to be covered under the scheme?

What are the main provisions under HMDG?

Under the HMDG scheme, a maximum help of Rs. 50,000 was provided to the poor and needy as part of the expenditure made on hospitalization for major surgical interventions and treatment of major diseases including heart ailments, kidney transplant, hip and knee replacement, cancer, AIDS, hepatitis and tumour.

Current guidelines: Help is granted up to Rs. 20,000 if the cost of treatment is Rs. 50,000; up to Rs. 40,000 if the cost is above Rs. 50,000 and up to Rs. 50,000 if it is above Rs. 1,00,000.

Fresh guidelines: Assistance of Rs. 50,000 if the estimated cost of treatment is Rs. 1,00,000; Rs. 75,000 (above Rs. 1,00,000 and up to 1,50,000) and Rs 1,00,000 (above Rs 1,50,000).

What are the new areas to be covered under the scheme?

The new areas urology, nephrology, gastroenterology, liver transplant and surgery for portal hypertension, cases of complicated diabetes which require one-time treatment such as amputation or renal transplant.

BPL families are covered under the Rashtriya Arogya Nidhi (RAN), where financial help is given for treating life-threatening diseases and medical aid is received in government hospitals. The financial assistance is released in the form of a “one-time grant”.

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