Delhi Arogya Nidhi

Why was Delhi Arogya Nidhi Introduced

The Delhi Arogya Nidhi (DAN) scheme is a healthcare scheme initiated by the Delhi Government to counter the financial strain placed upon the financially weaker sections of society due to serious and life-threatening diseases. Although government-run hospitals provide basic health care services, special treatments involving complex surgery procedures and costly diagnostic procedures often require out-of-pocket expenses that economically weaker families cannot afford.

To bridge this critical gap, the DAN Scheme provides direct financial assistance of up to ₹1.5 lakh directly to the treating government hospitals on behalf of eligible low-income patients, ensuring that financial constraints do not hamper the accessibility of Healthcare.

Key Highlights

Who is Eligible to Apply for Delhi Arogya Nidhi

• Must have a valid National Food Security Card (NFS) holder.
• Is a resident in Delhi, and has proof of residency in Delhi in the last 3 years prior to applying for Delhi Arogya Nidhi.
• Must be undergoing (or plan to undergo) treatment in any government hospital in Delhi. No treatment is covered if it is done in private hospitals under Delhi Arogya Nidhi.

Any of the following can be used as proof of continuous Delhi residence:

• National Food Security Card
• Voter's Photo ID Card (or birth certificate of the minor)
• Extract from electoral rolls
• Aadhaar card

What Delhi Arogya Nidhi Covers

• Financial Assistance for Disease: It provides financial help up to ₹1.5 lakh for treatment at government hospitals in Delhi to poor patients having a National Food Security (NFS) Card.
• Direct Disbursement to Hospitals: It disburses funds directly to the treating government hospital instead of compensating patients, hence making treatment hassle-free with no payment barrier right away.
• Life-saving and Critical Surgeries: It assists with cost-intensive surgical operations, which include open heart surgery, neurosurgery involving the brain and spine, as well as critical oncological surgeries.
• Surgical Implants and Prosthetics: It helps in funding surgical implants and devices, which include pacemakers, cardiac stents, prosthetic limbs, and joint replacement systems.
• Advances in Treatment of Cancer: It assists in costly unconventional treatments like chemotherapy, radiation therapy, bone marrow transplantation, and organ transplantation, including kidney and liver transplantation.
• Life-saving Drugs and Consumables: It helps with expensive medicines and consumables, including dialysis consumables, blood products for burns, and anti-rejection medicine.

How to Download and Apply Step by Step

Step 1: Download the Application Form

The Application form can be downloaded from the official website of DGHS Delhi from the download page, where "Application/Estimate/Undertaking Form" is available for Delhi Arogya Nidhi.You can get the physical copy of the form directly from the Patient Welfare Cell or the Medical Superintendent's Office of the hospital from where you are undergoing treatment.

Step 2: Fill in Patient Details

Fill up the form with all the necessary personal and medical details of the patient, ensuring that all the applicant details mentioned match with the original document.

Step 3: Attach Supporting Documents

Attach the photocopied version of the following documents after self-certification:

• Proof of 3-year continuous residence in Delhi (Aadhaar Card, Voter ID, Ration Card, etc.)
• Copy of the NFS card.
• Medical record of treatment and prescriptions.
• Patient's passport-size photographs

Step 4: Obtain the Estimate of Medical Costs

Get the medical cost estimation done by the treating doctor and obtain its certification along with the verification of patient photographs from the Consultant, Medical Superintendent, or Chief Medical Officer (CMO).

Step 5: Application Submission

Submit the completed application form along with all the documents that have been authenticated to the Patient Welfare Cell/Medical Superintendent of the treating government hospital or even to the Patient Welfare Cell of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).

Step 6: Verification Process

The application is forwarded to the DGHS from the hospital through the internal portal of the hospital for approval.

Step 7: Approval & Disbursement of Funds

In case the application is approved, the funds sanctioned up to the limit of ₹1.5 lakh are disbursed to the treating government hospital through Electronic Clearing Service (ECS). Notification regarding the approval/disapproval is provided through Speed Post or telephonically.

Documents Required to Apply for Delhi Arogya Nidhi

• Proof of Income: The patient should belong to a family whose annual income is less than Rs. 1 lakh per annum.
• Proof of Domicile in Delhi (3 years of residence in Delhi): Photocopy of any one of the below documents proving 3 years continuous residence in Delhi:
  • Aadhar Card
  • Voter ID Card
  • Ration Card
  • Driving license or Passport
  • Domicile Certificate by Area SDM
  • Electoral Roll Extract
• Estimate of Medical Expenses: Original certificate of estimate of medical expenses signed by the treating doctor and countersigned by the Medical Superintendent/Chief Medical Officer (CMO) of the hospital.
• Medical Report: Photocopies of all medical investigation reports, prescriptions, and diagnosis reports.
• Passport Size Photographs of the Patient: 2 recent attested/passport-sized photographs of the patient signed by the treating doctor/Medical Superintendent.

Delhi Arogya Nidhi Helpline Number

Other Government Health Schemes

• Delhi Arogya Kosh: Health Scheme of the Delhi government offering coverage of up to ₹5 lakh for treatment in government or empanelled hospitals. It covers medical services, free diagnostics, accident cover without any expense and monetary support.
• Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY: National health insurance scheme of India offers a coverage of up to ₹5 lakh per family per year for eligible economically weaker sections of society; Delhi does not have PM-JAY as a standard scheme like other states, and hence DAK operates as the scheme for the region.
• Atal Amrit Abhiyan: Health scheme of the Assam Government offering treatment up to ₹2 lakh per annum per individual for certain selected critical diseases.
• Deen Dayal Swasthya Seva Yojana: A health insurance scheme of the Goa government offering coverage up to ₹2.5 lakh for small families and ₹4 lakh for large families per year for selected treatments.