Delhi Arogya Kosh (DAK)

Why Was Delhi Arogya Kosh (DAK) Introduced

Before Delhi Arogya Kosh (DAK), patients at Delhi government hospitals could face high out-of-pocket costs for expensive treatments, tests, and surgeries because these were not covered by regular hospital facilities. This was particularly difficult for low-income families and could lead to delays in necessary treatment.

In order to fill the gap, the Delhi Government introduced DAK to provide financial assistance for such medical needs through government hospitals, reducing the need for patients to pay upfront. Over time, its coverage has expanded to include free diagnostic and imaging tests, as well as certain surgeries, at empanelled private hospitals when government hospitals have long waiting periods.

Delhi Arogya Kosh – Key Highlights

Who Is Eligible to Apply for Delhi Arogya Kosh(DAK)

• Residency: You must be a bonafide resident of Delhi for the last 3 years before you apply.
• Income: Your total family income must be ₹3 lakhs or less per year.
• Facility Type: You must be getting treatment in a Government Hospital in the NCT of Delhi. This includes hospitals run by the Delhi Government, Central Government, AIIMS, or Local Bodies.

What Delhi Arogya Kosh (DAK) Covers

• Financial Assistance for Illness - financial assistanceup to ₹5 lakhs for treatment in government hospitals for those who meet the income and residency requirements.
• Free Radiological/Imaging Facilities - Offers Ultrasound, Doppler Studies, Mammography, EEG, EMG, TMT, and ECHO at no cost for Delhi residents who are treated at GNCTD hospitals.
• Cashless Road Accident Coverage - Offers immediate support to victims of road accidents, acid attacks, and burns that happen in Delhi.
• High-end Diagnostic Referrals - Offers PET and Radio-nucleotide scans at accredited centres for patients from seven specific hospitals: GBPH, LNH, GTBH, DDUH, BSAH, JSSH, and RGSSH.
• Specified Surgery Scheme - If a government hospital schedules surgery more than 30 days after medical clearance, the patient can receive free treatment at a private partner hospital.
• Special Surgery Referrals - Patients who need surgery for kidney stones or prostate enlargement can be sent to partner hospitals immediately if the government hospital does not have the necessary equipment.

What Delhi Arogya Kosh Does Not Cover

• Treatment at hospitals outside the government, AIIMS, autonomous institutes, or local body network, unless specifically referred under the surgery or diagnostics provisions, is not covered under this scheme.
• Financial assistance beyond ₹5 lakh per patient is not covered.
• Standard financial assistance for patients whose annual family income exceeds ₹3 lakh, though the free-surgery and free-diagnostics components cannot avail the benefit of the scheme.
• Surgeries that are not on the scheme's current package rate list are not covered.

How to Apply for DAK – Step by Step

Step 1: Visit the Official DGHS Website

Go to the official dgehs.delhi.gov.in.

Step 2: Download the Application Form

Under the DAK documents section, download the “Application/Estimate/Undertaking Form. You can also get the form from the concerned Government Hospital.

Step 3: Fill Out the Form

Enter the required patient and treatment details and attach the necessary documents.

Step 4: Get Hospital Verification

Get the treatment estimate certified by the Medical Superintendent of the concerned Government Hospital.

Step 5: Submit the Application

Submit the completed form and documents at the Medical Superintendent/Medical Director's office of the concerned Government Hospital or at the designated Delhi Arogya Kosh office.

Step 6: Wait for Approval

The hospital sends the application to DGHS for review and approval.

Step 7: Receive the Assistance

The sanctioned amount is transferred directly to the concerned government hospital via Electronic Clearing Service(ECS). The applicant is informed separately by Speed Post and by phone if a contact number was provided.

Required Documents to Apply for Delhi Arogya Kosh( DOK)

• Income Proof: National Food Security (NFS) Card or an Income Certificate from the local Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM).
• Address Proof (Last 3 Years): Voter ID (EPIC), Aadhar Card, Passport, or Driving License.
• For Children: Birth Certificate of the child and the address proof of a parent.

How to Check Your Delhi Arogya Kosh (DOK) Application Status

There is no dedicated online portal for patients to track their application status in real-time. Instead, the Delhi Arogya Kosh (DAK) uses a manual and internal digital notification system to keep applicants informed.

You can check or receive updates on your application status through the following methods:

Official Notification (Standard Procedure)

Once your application has been processed through the hospital and approved by the competent authorities (DGHS, Finance Department, or the Chairman of DAK), you will be notified directly:

• Speed Post: A formal letter regarding the sanction of funds is sent to the applicant's registered address via speed post.
• Telephonic Update: If you provided a contact number in your application, the authorities will also attempt to inform you telephonically.

Inquire at the Point of Submission

Since the application is processed locally before being sent to the DGHS, you can inquire about the current status at the office where you submitted your documents:

• The Hospital: Contact the Office of the Medical Superintendent or Medical Director of the government hospital where you are receiving treatment.
• DAK Office: You can visit or contact the Patient Welfare Cell at the Delhi Government Dispensary Building, S-1, 3rd Floor, School Block, Shakarpur, Delhi.

Helpline and Support for DAK

DAK and Other Health Schemes

• Delhi Arogya Nidhi: Delhi Government initiative that provides financial assistance of up to ₹1.5 lakh from economically weaker sections for certain medical treatments and procedures at government hospitals.
• Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY: India's central health insurance scheme providing coverage of up to ₹5 lakh per family per year to eligible economically weaker families; Delhi has not implemented PM-JAY in the standard form adopted by most other states, which is part of why DAK functions as the territory's own assistance mechanism.
• Atal Amrit Abhiyan: An Assam Government health scheme providing cashless treatment up to ₹2 lakh per year per beneficiary for specified critical illnesses.
• Deen Dayal Swasthya Seva Yojana: A Goa Government health insurance scheme providing coverage of up to ₹2.5 lakh for small families and ₹4 lakh for large families per year for specified treatments.