Cancer Suraksha Scheme (Kerala)

Why Was Cancer Suraksha Scheme Introduced

Cancer, which was once thought to be incurable, has proved to be manageable with medical advancement and treatment, particularly in the paediatric segment, if diagnosed at an early stage. However, the costs of treatment have been extremely high for families to bear.

The Government of Kerala launched the Cancer Suraksha Scheme to ensure that no child is denied cancer treatment due to financial constraints. The scheme covers costs that are not included in standard free hospital care, such as drugs, investigations, procedures, and implants. It excludes expenses like paying ward rent or unusually costly treatments that are not typically provided in similar cases.

Cancer Suraksha Scheme – Key Highlights

Eligibility for Cancer Suraksha Scheme

• Age Criteria: The beneficiary should be less than 18 years old.
• Diagnosis Criteria: The patient must have a recent cancer diagnosis as determined by histological or radiological diagnosis, and have been registered at a hospital for treatment.
• Financial Criteria: These are the families that do not have the financial resources to cover the cost of treatment for their cancer, as determined by the hospital's appointed counsellor.
• Residency Criteria: The beneficiary should be a resident of Kerala.

What Cancer Suraksha Scheme Covers

• Cost of Treatment: The scheme covers the complete cost of cancer treatment for the child, including the cost of medical investigations, covered by the hospital through funds provided by the Mission.
• Initial Expenditure Ceiling: The Scheme starts initially set at ₹50,000 per child, though hospitals can incur additional expenditure based on a report from a committee comprising the treating Oncologist, the Head of the Radiology Department, and the hospital Superintendent, subject to ratification by the Mission.
• Cashless Access: The scheme puts funds directly with the hospital superintendents. This means eligible patients get treatment at the hospital without having to ask the Mission for reimbursement.

What Cancer Suraksha Scheme Does Not Cover

• Payment of ward charges: The plan does not include rent or payment for pay wards.
• Costly treatment: Unusually expensive treatments, medications, or diagnostic tests that are not typically needed are excluded from coverage.
• Patients who do not qualify: If patients fail to qualify for coverage, benefits cease.
• Treatments in other hospitals: Treatments in any other hospital other than the approved ones are not covered.

How to Apply for Cancer Suraksha Scheme – Step by Step

Step 1: Visit a Designated Hospital

Take the child to one of the designated hospitals under the Cancer Suraksha Scheme in Kerala for treatment.

Step 2: Contact the Scheme Counsellor

Speak to the scheme counsellor available at the designated hospital. The counsellor will guide the family through the application and eligibility process.

Step 3: Provide the Required Details related to Identification

Provide the child's identification and other details requested by the counsellor for verification.

Step 4: Eligibility Assessment

The counsellor will assess whether the child meets the scheme's eligibility requirements, including the family's financial condition.

Step 5: Registration for Treatment

If the child is found eligible, they can be registered for free, cashless cancer treatment under this scheme. The required funds are made available to the hospital, so the family does not need to claim reimbursement separately.

Step 6: Receiving Treatment

The child can receive treatment at the designated hospital under the scheme. Eligibility may be reviewed during treatment, and assistance can be stopped if the patient is later found to be ineligible.

Documents Required to Apply for Cancer Suraksha Scheme

• Aadhaar card or patient ID copy
• Patient age proof
• BPL card copy
• Ration card copy
• Residence certificate
• Passport-size photo
• Medical report confirming cancer
• Registered patient card (if already enrolled

Cancer Suraksha Scheme Hospitals list, Kerala

The Cancer Suraksha Scheme provides treatment through 10 designated hospitals across Kerala. These hospitals offer eligible children access to cancer diagnosis and treatment under the scheme.

• Regional Cancer Centre, Thiruvananthapuram
• Government Medical College, Thiruvananthapuram
• Sree Avittam Thirunal (SAT) Hospital, Thiruvananthapuram
• Government Medical College, Alappuzha
• Government Medical College, Kottayam
• Government Medical College, Thrissur
• Government Medical College, Kozhikode
• Co-operative Medical College, Pariyaram, Kannur
• Malabar Cancer Centre, Thalassery, Kannur
• Government General Hospital, Ernakulam

How to Check Application or Eligibility Status

There is no separate online status-tracking portal for this scheme. Since eligibility assessment and registration happen directly at the designated hospital through the posted scheme counsellor, families should follow up with the counsellor at the hospital where the child is registered for updates on eligibility status or Patient Card issuance.

Helpline and Support for Cancer Suraksha Scheme

Cancer Suraksha Scheme and Other Health Schemes

• Karunya Arogya Suraksha Padhathi (KASP): Kerala's health protection scheme providing cashless treatment up to ₹5 lakh per family per year for eligible beneficiaries, including cancer treatment.
• Rashtriya Arogya Nidhi (RAN): Provides financial assistance to eligible economically weaker patients suffering from life-threatening diseases, including cancer.
• Atal Amrit Abhiyan: Assam Government scheme providing up to ₹2 lakh per beneficiary for specified critical illnesses, including cancer.
• Mahatma Jyotirao Phule Jan Arogya Yojana (MJPJAY): Maharashtra's cashless health scheme providing up to ₹5 lakh per family per year for various treatments, including cancer care.