Government Schemes for Cancer Patients in India
At Milaap, we track cancer treatment costs and government scheme coverage closely, because most families raising funds on our platform need both. India runs over a dozen government schemes for cancer patients, including Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY (PMJAY), CGHS for government employees, and state programs like Kerala’s Cancer Suraksha Scheme. Each covers different patients, costs, and treatment stages, and every one of them has a limit. Below, we break down what each scheme actually covers, who qualifies, and where patients typically need to bridge the gap themselves.
According to data tracked by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Institute of Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME), approximately 1 in 6 deaths globally are caused by cancer, nearly 17% of total human mortality. In India, the challenge is even more severe: mortality among diagnosed patients is significantly higher than in Western countries, largely because over 70% of cases are detected only at advanced stages. This delay stems from low awareness of early symptoms, the concentration of specialized treatment centers in major metropolitan areas, and high out-of-pocket costs for diagnostic testing. For rural, low, and middle income families, this delay can be financially devastating.
The cost of cancer treatment in India is steep at every stage. A single chemotherapy session can cost anywhere from Rs.15,000 to Rs.1 lakh. Surgery and radiotherapy can each range from Rs.1 lakh to Rs.5 lakhs. Advanced treatments such as targeted therapy and immunotherapy can run Rs.1 lakh to Rs.4 lakhs per month, and a bone marrow transplant can cost Rs.15 lakhs to Rs.20 lakhs. The stage at diagnosis affects both the clinical outcome and how much a family will ultimately need to raise.
⚡ Most government schemes require you to apply before initiating treatment. Read this guide before your first hospital visit.
Government Schemes for Cancer Treatment
India’s Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has initiated and funded multiple schemes to support cancer patients financially and medically, so that a family’s income should not determine a patient’s chances of survival. We’ve grouped them below by who they serve, and flagged where each one typically stops covering the full cost.
Central Government Schemes
1. Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY / AB PM-JAY)
PMJAY is India’s flagship public healthcare assurance scheme, administered by the National Health Authority. It is the world’s largest government-funded healthcare scheme, providing free, cashless coverage of up to Rs.5 lakhs per eligible family per year. It fully covers cancer treatment under 200+ specific oncology packages spanning medical, surgical, and radiation oncology, including chemotherapy sessions, internal and external radiation therapy, and tumor surgeries.
Where it falls short: PMJAY strictly caps coverage at Rs.5 lakhs per family per year. Cancer treatment routinely exceeds this in a single course, and any amount beyond the cap is the patient’s responsibility. Eligibility is also restricted to families identified under the SECC database, so many lower-middle-income families who don’t qualify on paper still face the same costs with none of the cover.
2. Ayushman Bharat Expansion for Senior Citizens (AB PM-JAY Vay Vandana)
In 2024, the government expanded PMJAY to cover all senior citizens aged 70 and above with a separate top-up cover of Rs.5 lakhs per year, regardless of income or existing PMJAY enrollment. This was a meaningful expansion for elderly cancer patients, who previously had to rely entirely on their family’s existing cover or on schemes like CGHS and ECHS.
Where it falls short: The senior citizen top-up is shared across the household’s senior citizens rather than allotted per person, and it does not cover non-medical costs such as travel, caregiver stay, or income loss during a multi-month treatment course. Since this is a relatively recent expansion, eligibility rules and empanelled hospital lists are still being updated in several states, so it’s worth verifying current status before publishing exact figures.
3. Health Minister's Cancer Patient Fund (HMCPF)
HMCPF is a central government scheme operating under the Rashtriya Arogya Nidhi (RAN). It provides one-time financial assistance of up to Rs.15 lakhs for cancer patients below the poverty line, treated at one of the designated Regional Cancer Centers. Funds are transferred directly to the hospital or cancer center, not the patient, and the single grant can cover consecutive chemotherapy sessions, surgeries, and radiotherapy until the ceiling is reached.
Where it falls short: This is a one-time grant, not an annual benefit. Once the Rs.15 lakh ceiling is exhausted, patients who need continued or long-term treatment must transition to another scheme, such as PMJAY, with no guarantee of a smooth handoff or immediate approval.
4. Health Minister's Discretionary Grant (HMDG)
HMDG is another central scheme offering one-time financial assistance of up to Rs.1.25 lakhs for life-threatening diseases, for families earning less than Rs.1.25 lakhs per year. It covers cancer treatment for eligible patients at any recognized government hospital, with funds transferred directly to the hospital, similar to HMCPF.
Where it falls short: Rs.1.25 lakhs covers only a fraction of most cancer treatment courses, particularly surgery, radiotherapy, or targeted therapy. It’s best understood as a bridge grant rather than a full treatment fund.
Here’s how the central schemes compare side by side:
| Scheme | Coverage Amount | Who Qualifies | Key Gap |
|---|---|---|---|
| PMJAY (AB PM-JAY) | Up to Rs.5 lakh/family/year | SECC-listed low income families | Annual cap; excludes many lower-middle-income families |
| AB PM-JAY Vay Vandana (senior citizens) | Up to Rs.5 lakh/year (household top-up) | All citizens aged 70+ | Shared across household seniors; no non-medical cost cover |
| HMCPF (RAN) | Up to Rs.15 lakh, one-time | BPL patients at designated RCCs | One-time only; no renewal once exhausted |
| HMDG | Up to Rs.1.25 lakh, one-time | Families earning under Rs.1.25 lakh/year | Amount too small for most treatment courses |
State Cancer Schemes
Beyond central schemes, several states run their own cancer-specific programs, some layered on top of PMJAY and some standalone.
Karnataka: Ayushman Bharat Arogya Karnataka is a unified state health program merged with PMJAY. It provides the same Rs.5 lakh cover for BPL cardholders, and as a state-specific addition, Rs.1.5 lakh for APL cardholders. Note: patients who have already claimed AB PM-JAY benefits cannot apply for this scheme separately. Karnataka also runs the Chief Minister’s Medical Relief Fund (KCMMRF), a discretionary emergency grant of up to Rs.1 lakh for cancer treatment or chemotherapy cycles for patients below the poverty line.
Where it falls short: The Rs.1.5 lakh APL tier is modest against real treatment costs, and KCMMRF is discretionary, meaning approval isn’t guaranteed and timelines can be unpredictable.
Kerala: The Cancer Suraksha Scheme provides free cancer treatment for children under 18, covering diagnostic tests, oncology drugs, procedures, implants, and chemotherapy that government hospitals don’t otherwise provide free. Treatment is entirely cashless through designated hospitals and Regional Cancer Centers (RCCs). Kerala’s flagship RCC, the Regional Cancer Centre in Thiruvananthapuram, is one of India’s oldest and largest state-run comprehensive cancer centers, offering subsidized and, for BPL patients, free treatment across diagnosis, surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy, alongside its role in cancer research.
Where it falls short: Cancer Suraksha Scheme is limited to patients under 18. Adult patients depend on RCC Kerala’s general subsidized care or PMJAY, and RCC capacity is limited relative to the state’s patient volume, so wait times can be long.
Rajasthan: The Mukhyamantri Nishulk Dawa Yojana provides essential medications free of charge through Drug Distribution Counters inside government hospitals, including major, high-cost oncology medications. Patients with a valid doctor’s prescription can collect these drugs at no cost.
Where it falls short: This scheme covers medication only. It doesn’t help with the cost of surgery, radiotherapy, hospitalization, or diagnostics, which typically make up the larger share of a cancer treatment bill.
Punjab: The Mukhya Mantri Punjab Cancer Rahat Kosh provides direct relief for oncology treatment, up to Rs.1.50 lakhs per eligible patient, usable across major empanelled public and private hospitals, including specialized facilities.
Where it falls short: Rs.1.50 lakhs is typically enough for only one phase of treatment. Patients needing surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy in combination will likely exhaust this well before treatment ends.
Tata Memorial Hospital: Free and Subsidized Cancer Treatment
Tata Memorial Centre in Mumbai, run under the Department of Atomic Energy, is India’s largest and oldest dedicated cancer treatment and research center. It treats a very large share of its patients for free or at heavily subsidized rates, funded through cross-subsidization from paying patients, trusts such as the Indian Cancer Society and Cancer Patients Aid Association, its own relief funds, and empanelment under schemes like PMJAY and HMCPF. Free and subsidized care is generally reserved for patients who qualify as Economically Weaker Section (EWS) or BPL, and requires income documentation and a formal application process.
Where it falls short: Tata Memorial’s patient volume far exceeds its capacity, which means long waitlists for both appointments and subsidized treatment slots. It doesn’t cover travel, lodging in Mumbai, or lost income during treatment, costs that can add up over months for out-of-state families. We’d recommend verifying current subsidy criteria and capacity directly with the hospital, since these are reviewed periodically.
Government Employee and Pensioner Schemes
Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS): A comprehensive healthcare program for serving and retired central government employees, CGHS provides complete financial coverage for cancer treatment with no cost upper limit. Beneficiaries can access chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and complex surgical procedures at government hospitals, Regional Cancer Centers, and empanelled private cancer hospitals.
Ex-servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS): A comprehensive healthcare program providing cashless, high-quality medical care for retired Indian Armed Forces personnel. It fully covers cancer treatment, including oncology surgeries, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, immunotherapy, and high-end diagnostics like PET and CT scans, at empanelled specialized cancer hospitals.
Employee’s State Insurance (ESI): A health insurance program administered by the Employee State Insurance Corporation for Indian workers, providing full, cashless, and unlimited medical coverage for oncology care to eligible insured workers and their dependents.
Where it falls short: These three schemes offer the strongest coverage on this list, but eligibility is tied entirely to employment status. They don’t help the vast majority of cancer patients in India who work in the informal sector or are self-employed.
Medication Subsidies
Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP): A flagship public welfare campaign providing quality generic medicines at affordable prices to all citizens. Buying medication through the scheme can cut monthly expenses by 50% to 80%. The government offers roughly 85 to 90 distinct anti-cancer drugs through Janaushadhi Kendras.
Affordable Medicines and Reliable Implants for Treatment (AMRIT): An initiative by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare offering over 200 specialized oncology formulations at discounts of up to 50% below MRP, including targeted chemotherapy drugs, monoclonal antibodies, and supportive care injections.
Where it falls short: Both schemes reduce medication costs but don’t touch the cost of surgery, radiotherapy, hospitalization, or diagnostics, which remain the largest line items in most cancer treatment bills.
Travel Concessions
Indian Railways offers up to 100% discount on the base fare, depending on travel class, for cancer patients and one escort. The concession is only available at station ticket counters and reservation offices, and patients must present a valid medical certificate issued by the head of a recognized cancer hospital or institute where treatment is ongoing.
Air India offers a 50% concession on the basic economy fare for cancer patients traveling for check-ups or treatment. As with railways, these tickets can’t be booked online; patients must visit a local Air India office or airport ticketing counter with an application and a medical certificate from a recognized cancer hospital.
Where the Gap Remains
Looking across every scheme above, the shortfalls follow a consistent pattern: annual or one-time caps that fall short of real treatment costs, eligibility restricted by income documentation or employment status, coverage limited to specific hospitals or Regional Cancer Centers, and almost no support for travel, lodging, caregiver time, or lost income, costs that can equal the medical bill itself for families traveling from smaller towns for treatment. Approval timelines for discretionary grants can also run weeks, while treatment often can’t wait.
This is the gap medical crowdfunding is built for. When a family has applied for every scheme they qualify for and there’s still a shortfall, whether it’s the amount above a PMJAY cap, the cost of an out-of-state RCC referral, or three months of hospital-adjacent rent, a verified fundraiser can raise that difference in days rather than months, directly from people who want to help. It doesn’t replace government schemes, it covers what they don’t.
How Families Raise Funds for Cancer Treatment on Milaap
Even with insurance and government schemes, most families face a gap. Here is what we have seen work — and what makes the difference between campaigns that raise enough and those that fall short.
Crowdfunding works best when it starts early and leads with the human story rather than the medical one. A campaign that says “my father has cancer” raises less than one that shows who he is, what the family has already done, and what recovery means for them. Donors give to people, not diagnoses.
What every Milaap campaign gets:
- Zero Platform Fees
- Fast Withdrawals
- Employer Matching Benefits
- A dedicated campaign manager for story, media, and outreach
- Frequent beneficiary/project updates via email and WhatsApp
The families who raise the most start their campaign before admission — not after. Starting early gives donors time to share and give.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. You qualify for government schemes if you have cancer or are a registered caregiver for a cancer patient, subject to each scheme’s income and eligibility criteria.
No. Central schemes like HMCPF and HMDG transfer funds directly to the treating hospital, not the patient, to ensure the money is used for treatment.
All types of cancer are eligible. Government schemes qualify patients based on the stage of cancer and family income level, not the type of cancer.
Yes, PMJAY covers cancer treatment under 200+ oncology packages, but the extent and duration of coverage varies by cancer type and stage, and is capped at Rs.5 lakh per family per year.
PMJAY is a means-tested scheme for low-income families with an annual cap of Rs.5 lakh. CGHS is an employment-based scheme for central government employees and pensioners with no cost upper limit. PMJAY eligibility depends on income; CGHS eligibility depends on employment status.
Tata Memorial Centre in Mumbai provides free or heavily subsidized treatment to a large share of patients who qualify as Economically Weaker Section or BPL, funded through trusts, cross-subsidization, and government scheme empanelment. It requires income documentation and has long waitlists given patient volume.
RCC Kerala refers to Kerala’s Regional Cancer Centre in Thiruvananthapuram, one of India’s largest state-run comprehensive cancer centers, offering subsidized and, for BPL patients, free diagnosis and treatment.
Yes. In 2024, PMJAY was expanded to cover all senior citizens aged 70 and above with a separate top-up of Rs.5 lakh per year, regardless of income.
A 4-month chemotherapy course generally costs Rs.1 lakh to Rs.12 lakhs, depending on the cancer type, drugs used, and treatment protocol.
Government schemes cover only part of most cancer treatment costs. Starting a medical crowdfunding campaign on a verified platform like Milaap can raise the remaining amount within days, directly from donors.
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