Against this backdrop, the Jammu and Kashmir Government has revised the Cancer Treatment & Management Fund for Patients, significantly expanding the scope of financial assistance available to cancer patients and their families.
Under the revised structure, the annual family income ceiling has been increased to Rs 4 lakh, widening eligibility to include lower-middle-income households that may struggle to meet cancer treatment expenses but do not qualify for assistance under schemes restricted to poorer families.
Families with an annual income of up to Rs 3 lakh will receive Rs 75,000, while those earning between Rs 3 lakh and Rs 4 lakh will receive Rs 50,000. The assistance will also no longer be restricted to a one-time sanction. Beneficiaries can now receive support across three sanctions, with each sanction spaced a year apart, recognising the prolonged nature of cancer treatment.
The revised assistance is supported by other existing measures in Jammu and Kashmir. J&K MLAs have the discretion to allocate up to Rs 20 lakh annually from their Constituency Development Fund for the medical treatment of eligible patients. A cancer patient can receive up to Rs 2.75 lakh through this route.
Alongside the enhanced Cancer Treatment & Management Fund for Patients support, inpatient coverage under Ayushman Bharat-PMJAY SEHAT provides an additional layer of financial protection for eligible patients.
The establishment of dedicated cancer institutes in Jammu and Srinagar, equipped with PET-scan facilities, is another key development. These facilities enable patients to access advanced diagnosis and treatment within the Union Territory, reducing the need to travel outside J&K for specialised cancer care and helping limit the additional expenses associated with such travel.
The introduction of Direct Benefit Transfer has also been incorporated into the assistance mechanism. Funds are credited within 72 hours through the Deputy Commissioner, providing beneficiaries with faster access to financial support.
The revised scheme therefore expands both eligibility and the duration of assistance while complementing existing medical support mechanisms. For families facing the financial burden of prolonged cancer treatment, the measures provide a broader avenue of support against treatment-related expenses.
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