Cancer treatment can be expensive which usually deters
people from either following or completing their treatment plans. The bills
usually tend to run so high that they become an added source of pressure on the
already emotionally stressed out and anxious people. This article aims to
provide guidance as to how to organise your finances, types of costs that can
crop up and ways to seek treatment funds.
IDENTIFYING COSTS:
Cancer treatment
includes medical costs like doctor’s appointments, treatment, medication etc.
Various non-medical or hidden expenditure includes travel, financial issues of
a family or loss of employment. It might be helpful to group the various costs
according to your needs and budget. The overall cost of treatment would depend
on various personal factors like the kind of cancer one has, the type of
treatment needed, health insurance coverage and where you will be treated.
All this might seem a bit overwhelming. However, there are
various national and local organisations which can provide financial assistance
to patients facing financial difficulties.
GOVERNMENT POLICIES:
1)
PRIME MINISTER’S NATIONAL RELIEF FUND ( PMNRF) :
Started by former PM Pt.
Jawaharlal Nehru in 1948 to help families of major natural disasters and riots.
However, they also provide medical assistance for cancer treatment. Funds are
provided by PM or multiple delegates for national cause. A person can apply
online and even check the hospitals covered under the fund on the PMNRF
website. The approval of the application depends solely on the discretion of
the PM.
Website link: https://www.pmnrf.gov.in/contactus.php
Website link: https://www.pmnrf.gov.in/contactus.php
2) MINISTRY OF HEALTH
AND FAMILY WELFARE:
Under the schemes of Rashtriya Arogya Nidhi ( RAN) and
State Illness Assistance Funds (SAIF), government provides financial assistance
for families below poverty lines . The assistance is provided only for
treatment in government hospitals, list of which is available online. Cases of
estimates above 1.50 lakh are referred to RAN by the State Government.
There’s also a closure for Income Tax Relief for Cancer
Patient. The form for the same is available online. ( http://www.incometaxindia.gov.in/Rules/Income-Tax%20Rules/103120000000007232.htm
)
3) CHIEF MINISTER’S RELIEF FUNDS:
3) CHIEF MINISTER’S RELIEF FUNDS:
It is
provided by states that have opted for SAIF. However, this excludes states of
Assam, Meghalaya and Nagaland.
NON GOVERNMENT
ORGANISATIONS: There are NGOs in India which have been raising funds for
treatment of cancer patients. Some of these are also dedicated towards
providing assistance for specific cancer, for example breast cancer. Most of
them have a holistic approach as to the treatment and rehabilitation. Some of
these NGO are CPAA India, HelpAge India, and India Cancer Society etc. Crowd funding by various starts-ups has also
picked up who make use of social media to raise funds for cancer patients.
LINKS: http://www.indiancancersociety.org/activities-ics/cancer-cure-fund.aspx
https://milaap.org/
https://www.ketto.org/
https://milaap.org/
https://www.ketto.org/
To avail any of the above mentioned schemes, a patient needs medical reports, ID Proofs and passport size photographs.
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Author- Diksha Kakkar
(Yoddhas Ambassador)