Cancer PAtients in 'Third and Fourth Stage' will get Financial Assistance Similar to Old Age Respect Allowance | 29 Nov 2023

​Why In News?

On November 27, 2023, the Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Manohar Lal approved the proposal to provide monthly financial assistance to the 'third and fourth stage' patients of cancer disease on the lines of old age Samman allowance scheme. The scheme will come into force from the date of publication in the Official Gazette.

Key Points:

  • The financial assistance provided under this scheme will be in addition to the benefits being availed by the applicant under any other social security pension scheme.
  • Under this scheme, eligible cancer patients will be provided monthly financial assistance of Rs 3000 from January 1, 2024, on the lines of old age honor allowance scheme.
  • Cancer patients whose annual family income is less than Rs 3 lakh excluding the amount of other social security pension schemes will be eligible.
  • The objective of this scheme is to reduce the financial burden faced by the 'third and fourth stage' patients of cancer. This scheme will be applicable for stage-3 and 4 cancer patients of all age groups in the state of Haryana.
  • Under this, monthly financial assistance will be provided for the needs of serious cancer patients, living expenses, basic needs, medical expenses, indirect costs, OOPE etc.
  • Under the scheme, the conditions of 'bonfied-residence' will be valid in the eligibility of the patient. Apart from this, the applicant should also have a family identity card.
  • It may be noted that Chief Minister Manohar Lal had announced pensions for the third and fourth stage cancer patients during the inauguration of Atal Cancer Center Ambala Cantt on May 9, 2022.
  • Cancer is a multifactorial disease, which is one of the leading causes of death in India. India records 13.24 lakh new cancer cases and about 8.51 lakh cancer-related deaths annually. Haryana reported an estimated 29,000 new cancer cases and 16,000 cancer deaths in the year 2020.
  • About 64 percent of the patients in the third and fourth stages of cancer come from poor backgrounds. In such a situation, with the approval of this scheme by the Haryana Government, there will be a lot of relief from getting financial assistance to the 'third and fourth stage' patients of cancer disease.