Executive Summary:
The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare addresses concerns regarding the Rashtriya Arogya Nidhi (RAN) Umbrella Scheme and Health Minister's Discretionary Grant (HMDG) following the introduction of an online platform. The response clarifies the continued implementation of the schemes in both online and offline modes. It also details changes to the fund disbursement system and eligibility criteria.
Key Points / Main Content:
* **Scheme Implementation:**
* The RAN, RAN Umbrella Scheme, and HMDG are implemented seamlessly in both offline and online modes, without interruption.
* **Online Platform Integration:**
* The RAN Umbrella Scheme and HMDG were integrated onto the National Health Authority's (NHA) IT platform on 01.06.2021.
* 108 hospitals/institutes have been integrated into the online platform for RAN/HMDG implementation.
* **Fund Disbursement:**
* The individual hospital-based revolving fund account system has been replaced by a Child-Parent Accounting System.
* AIIMS, New Delhi operates the Parent Account, where funds are transferred via Ministry-issued sanction orders.
* Financial assistance for patient treatment is released through this Child-Parent Accounting System via the NHA IT platform.
* **Eligibility:**
* Antyodaya beneficiaries from States/UTs with integrated NFSA data and PMJAY beneficiaries requiring treatment not covered by PMJAY are eligible for the RAN Umbrella Scheme online.
* **Hospital Responsibilities:**
* Hospital authorities familiar with scheme guidelines are to process proposals for financial assistance through the NHA IT platform.
* **Continued Financial Assistance:**
* Hospitals may continue providing financial assistance to eligible patients through either online or offline modes, as applicable, according to scheme guidelines.
Impact Analysis:
* **Poor Patients:**
* Impact: Can continue to receive financial assistance for treatment under RAN and HMDG through both online and offline modes.
* Action Required: Utilize either online or offline channels, ensuring eligibility under the scheme guidelines.
* **Hospitals (Including Sree Chitra):**
* Impact: Must adapt to the Child-Parent Accounting System for fund disbursement. Can continue providing financial assistance through both online and offline modes.
* Action Required: Process financial assistance proposals through the NHA IT platform, adhere to scheme guidelines, and familiarize themselves with the Child-Parent Accounting System.
* **National Health Authority (NHA):**
* Impact: Responsible for maintaining and operating the IT platform for online implementation of RAN and HMDG.
* Action Required: Ensure the smooth functioning of the IT platform and integration of relevant data (e.g., NFSA).
* **Ministry of Health and Family Welfare:**
* Impact: Oversees the implementation of the schemes and issues sanction orders for fund transfers.
* Action Required: Monitor the implementation of the schemes in both online and offline modes.
Key Entities Referenced
Rashtriya Arogya Nidhi: A fund to provide financial assistance to poor patients receiving medical treatment at government hospitals.
RAN Umbrella Scheme: A scheme operating under the Rashtriya Arogya Nidhi to provide financial assistance to poor patients.
Health Minister's Discretionary Grant: A discretionary grant provided by the Health Minister to assist poor patients with medical expenses.
Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology: A hospital approved under the Umbrella Scheme.
National Health Authority: The apex body responsible for the implementation of Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY).
AIIMS, New Delhi: All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi; functions as the Parent Account in the Child-Parent Accounting System.
National Food Security Act: An Act of the Parliament of India which aims to provide subsidized food grains to approximately two-thirds of the country's population.
PMJAY: Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana, a national public health insurance fund of the Government of India that aims to provide free access to health insurance coverage for qualifying citizens.
GOVERNMENTOFINDIA
MINISTRYOFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE
DEPARTMENTOFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARREDQUESTION NO. 1098
TO BE ANSWERED ON25.07.2025
RAN UMBRELLASCHEME
1098. SHRIE TMOHAMMED BASHEER:
Will the Ministerof HEALTHANDFAMILYWELFAREbe pleasedtostate:
(a) whether the Government has taken note that all grants under the Rashtriya Arogya Nidhi
(RAN), RAN Umbrella Scheme and Health Minister’s Discretionary Grants have been
stopped afterannouncement of anonline platform for helpingpoor patientstoget treatment;
(b) if so, the detailsthereof;
(c) whether the Government has taken note that under the Umbrella Scheme, only 14
hospitals were approved in the whole country, including Sree Chitra and that the system of
givingandrenewing 50lakhadvances hasnowstopped;
(d) if so, the detailsthereof;
(e) whether the Government has taken note that many poor patients earning less than 1,400
per month cannot use the online RAN because hospitals are not accepting it and no notices
are put uptoinform patients;
(f) if so, the detailsthereof; and
(g) the steps taken by the Government to ensure that hospitals like Sree Chitra, which have
RAN committeesandonline approval systems, cancontinue givingfinancialhelp?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OFSTATE IN THE MINISTRYOFHEALTH AND FAMILY
WELFARE
(SHRIPRATAPRAO JADHAV)
(a) & (b) - The grants under the Rashtriya Arogya Nidhi (RAN), RAN Umbrella Scheme and
Health Minister’s Discretionary Grant (HMDG) are implemented seamlessly in both modes
i.e. offline and online, without any interruption, even after announcement of an online
platform for helpingpoor patients toget treatment.
(c) & (d) - The Umbrella Scheme of Rashtriya Arogya Nidhi (RAN), along with the Health
Minister’s Discretionary Grant (HMDG) scheme, was on boarded onto the National Health
Authority (NHA)’s IT platform on 01.06.2021. Since then, 108 hospitals/institutes have been
integratedintothe platform for the online implementationof the RAN/HMDGschemes.With regard to the provision and renewal of advances of ₹50 lakh, it is informed that the
individual hospital-based revolving fund account system has been replaced by a Child-Parent
Accounting System. Adesignated bank account operated by AIIMS, New Delhi functions as
the Parent Account, into which funds are transferred through sanction orders issued by this
Ministry. This Parent Account is linked to Child Accounts maintained by the respective
hospitals. Financial assistance for patient treatment under the RAN/HMDG schemes,
processed through the NHA’s IT platform, is released exclusively through this Child-Parent
AccountingSystem.
(e)& (f) Antyodaya beneficiaries from States/UTswhere National FoodSecurityAct (NFSA)
data has been integrated with the National Health Authority’s (NHA) IT platform, as well as
PM-JAY beneficiaries requiring treatment not covered under PM-JAY, are eligible to avail
benefits under the Umbrella Scheme of Rashtriya Arogya Nidhi (RAN) through the online
mode.
Hospital authorities well versed with the provisions of the scheme's guidelines, process
proposals for financial assistance through the NHA’s IT platform in accordance with the
existing guidelines.
(g) The scheme is implemented in bothonline and offline modes. Accordingly, the respective
hospitalsmaycontinuetoprovide financialassistance toeligible patientsthrougheithermode,
as applicable, in accordance with the instructions and provisions outlined in the scheme
guidelines.
***