Cancer is like an unpredicted storm coming into a family—noise, discomfort, and most of the time fright. The question of what would be the most terrible thing that could happen is quite commonly raised among Indian families. Besides the disease, it seems the overwhelming financial burden is what scares them the most. However, there is a glimpse of hope among such apprehensions. Through the past ten years, the Government of India has done a commendable job in creating a safety net comprising an array of cancer treatment schemes which are either free or subsidized, thereby making sure that no one has to go through cancer by themselves or stop their treatment because of a lack of money.
This is the narrative of the lives that these schemes change and the way Government with schemes intervenes in the patients’ journey to get the assistance they are entitled to.
Major Government Schemes Offering Free or Affordable Cancer Treatment in India
Ayushman Bharat – Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY)
India’s largest health insurance scheme, covering:
- Up to ₹5 lakh per family per year
- Free treatment for cancers: breast, cervical, oral, lung, colorectal and more
- Access to 26,000+ empaneled hospitals (government + private)
Many radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and surgery packages are completely cashless.
Health Minister’s Cancer Patient Fund (HMCPF)
Under the Health Minister’s Discretionary Grant
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- Treatment aid up to ₹2.5 lakh
- Available in select regional cancer centers
A lifeline for individuals with no other insurance coverage.
Rashtriya Arogya Nidhi (RAN)
For patients below poverty line (BPL)
- Covers high-cost cancer treatments at government hospitals
- Includes radiotherapy and complex cancer surgeries
The scheme was created to ensure no BPL family has to mortgage their future for treatment.
State-Specific Cancer Treatment Schemes
Many states offer additional support:
- Delhi Arogya Kosh – up to ₹5 lakh support
- Maharashtra Jeevan Amrut Yojana – subsidized chemotherapy
- West Bengal Swasthya Sathi – free treatment in empaneled hospitals
- Tamil Nadu Chief Minister’s Comprehensive Health Scheme (CMCHIS) – extensive cancer coverage
Each state has its own additional benefit pool, especially for radiotherapy and pediatric cancers.
CGHS & ECHS (For Government Employees & Armed Forces)
- Covers OPD + IPD cancer treatment
- Cashless care at private hospitals empaneled under the scheme
- Especially helpful for retirees with long-term cancer therapy needs
National Programme for Prevention and Control of Cancer (NPCDCS)
Although preventive in nature, it supports:
- Free diagnosis camps
- Screening services
- Early detection clinics
Early detection makes treatment less costly and more successful.
Cancer care isn’t just medical—it’s emotional, mental, and financial.
Government Schemes for Free Cancer Treatment in India (State-Wise Guide)
Cancer treatment in India can be financially overwhelming, but the good news is that nearly every state offers free or highly subsidized cancer care through dedicated government schemes. Along with national programs such as Ayushman Bharat (PM-JAY) and Health Ministry’s Non-Communicable Disease (NCD) initiatives, many Indian states have launched their own cancer-specific financial support schemes.
This blog provides a state-wise breakdown to help patients and caregivers identify where to access free cancer treatment.
1. National Schemes Available Across All States
Ayushman Bharat – Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY)
- Coverage: ₹5 lakh/family/year
- Covers: Chemotherapy, radiotherapy, cancer surgery, diagnostics, ICU care
- Where applicable: 26+ states and UTs
- Beneficiaries: Automatically identified through SECC data (no premium required)
Health Minister’s Cancer Patient Fund (HMCPF)
- Financial assistance for life-saving cancer drugs
- Eligibility: BPL families holding a valid card
- Works through 27 Regional Cancer Centres (RCCs)
Rashtriya Arogya Nidhi (RAN)
- Covers cancer treatment costs for BPL patients
- Applies only at government hospitals
State-Wise Cancer Treatment Schemes (Detailed List)
Andhra Pradesh
Dr. YSR Aarogyasri Scheme
- Coverage: ₹5–10 lakh/year
- Cancer care (chemo, radiation, surgery) fully covered in govt + empaneled private hospitals
- Free follow-up medicines and investigations
Telangana
Aarogyasri Health Scheme (Telangana Aarogyasri Trust)
- Coverage: ₹5 lakh
- 100% cashless cancer treatment
- Special categories: Free nutrition + lodging for pediatric cancer patients
Tamil Nadu
Chief Minister’s Comprehensive Health Insurance Scheme (CMCHIS)
- Coverage: ₹5 lakh/year
- Cancer surgery, chemo cycles, radiotherapy, and bone marrow transplant included
- Linked with premier cancer institutes like Adyar Cancer Institute
Karnataka
Arogya Karnataka + Ayushman Bharat
- Universal cancer coverage for all residents
- BPL: Completely free
- APL: Subsidized rates
- Major services: Chemotherapy, radiation & surgical oncology
Kerala
Karunya Arogya Suraksha Padhathi (KASP)
- Kerala’s version of PM-JAY
- Provides cashless cancer treatment up to ₹5 lakh
- Additional support via Karunya Benevolent Fund (KBF) for complex oncology surgeries
Maharashtra
Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Jan Arogya Yojana (MJPJAY)
- Coverage: ₹1.5–2 lakh (extendable to ₹3 lakh)
- Includes chemotherapy cycles + cancer surgery
- Free treatment at Tata Memorial (Mumbai), ACTREC, and govt hospitals
Gujarat
Mukhyamantri Amrutam (MA)/MA Vatsalya Yojana
- Coverage: ₹5 lakh/year
- Full cancer treatment — radiation, surgical, medical oncology
- Key feature: Covers many private hospitals like Apollo & HCG at zero cost
Rajasthan
Mukhyamantri Chiranjeevi Swasthya Bima Yojana
- Coverage: ₹10 lakh (extendable)
- Free cancer diagnosis + chemo + radiotherapy + surgery
- Cashless in all govt & empanelled private hospitals
Madhya Pradesh
Mukhyamantri Jan Arogya Abhiyan (MPJAY)
- Coverage: ₹5 lakh
- Cancer medicines & diagnostic tests fully covered
- Tie-ups with regional cancer centers in Bhopal, Gwalior, Jabalpur
Uttar Pradesh
Mukhya Mantri Arogya Swasthya Yojana
- Additional support for high-cost cancer surgeries
- PM-JAY covers regular cancer care
- UP govt funds additional drugs for childhood cancers
Bihar
Bihar Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (BSSY)
- PM-JAY equivalent
- Offers free oral, breast, and cervical cancer diagnostics + treatment
- Strengthened through Tata Memorial’s partnership with govt hospitals
West Bengal
Swasthyasathi Scheme
- Coverage: ₹5 lakh/family
- No smart card fee
- All cancer treatments in public & private hospitals covered cashlessly
- Maternal exemption: Women cardholders get priority approval
Punjab
Sarbat Sehat Bima Yojana
- Covers radiation, chemotherapy, cancer surgery
- Empaneled govt + private institutes including PGI Chandigarh
Haryana
Chirayu Haryana Yojana
- Extended PM-JAY benefits to APL families up to ₹1.8 lakh/year income
- All cancer treatments included
- Additional funds for rare cancers
Delhi
Delhi Arogya Kosh
- Covers high-cost cancer treatment for residents
- Financial assistance up to ₹5 lakh for radiotherapy, chemo, surgery
- Linked with AIIMS, LNJP, Rajiv Gandhi Cancer Institute
Jammu & Kashmir
SEHAT Scheme (PM-JAY Extension)
- Universal free cancer treatment
- No income limit
- Cashless across J&K hospitals
Himachal Pradesh
HIMCARE Scheme
- Coverage: ₹5 lakh
- Cancer diagnostics + treatment included
- Free supportive care: Blood transfusion, pathology, imaging
Odisha
Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana (BSKY)
- Free cancer treatment for women, children & BPL
- Men from APL: Up to ₹5 lakh
- Tie-ups with Acharya Harihar Cancer Institute
Chhattisgarh
Dr. Khubchand Baghel Swasthya Sahayata Yojana
- Coverage: ₹5 lakh
- Cancer covered fully in govt hospitals
- Includes nutritional assistance for cancer patients
Jharkhand
Ayushman Bharat Mukhya Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana
- ₹5 lakh coverage
- Bone marrow transplant + pediatric cancers included
Assam
Atal Amrit Abhiyan
- Coverage: ₹2 lakh/year
- Cancer is a priority disease
- Free medicines and chemo cycles in govt hospitals
- Additional Scheme: Assam Cancer Care Foundation (ACCF) network of 17 hospitals
Meghalaya
Megha Health Insurance Scheme (MHIS)
- Combined MHIS + PM-JAY coverage
- Cashless cancer treatment upto ₹5 lakh per family
Tripura
CM Jana Arogya Yojana
- Covers cancer therapies in addition to PM-JAY
- Special care support for pediatric oncology
Nagaland, Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim
- Cancer care provided under PM-JAY
- Additional state reimbursement for rare cancers
- Northeast India has dedicated cancer centers under Tata Trusts – State Govt partnerships
Why These Schemes Matter: A Collective Promise
Cancer treatment is expensive, but in India, no patient should be denied care because they cannot afford it.
The government’s initiatives are helping thousands start treatment on time—and survive.
- Every cured patient becomes the next chapter of hope.
- Every scheme becomes a bridge to life.
- And every helping hand strengthens the fight against cancer.
India provides a wide range of government support programs to ensure that cancer treatment is not only accessible but also affordable to the general population. The Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY initiative offers a maximum of ₹5 lakh per family and facilitates a cancer treatment that does not require the handing over of money directly to the patient at hospitals that are empaneled. Besides, the Health Minister’s Cancer Patient Fund and Rashtriya Arogya Nidhi are the two major sources that provide financial help to the economically weaker sections of the society and the patients living below the poverty line. Different states have their own state government schemes, for example, Delhi Arogya Kosh, Swasthya Sathi in West Bengal, and Tamil Nadu’s CMCHIS, which provide support to the patients undergoing chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and surgeries. In the same way, CGHS and ECHS are the two schemes that provide cancer treatment benefits to the government employees, pensioners, and armed forces personnel. Besides, preventive and early detection measures get a boost through the NPCDCS program, which helps in the identification of cancer at an early stage when the chances of cure are higher. To make patients aware of these resources, this guide gives them the necessary help.
The question of affordability of cancer treatment in India is answered in the affirmative by the government, thanks to a network of national and state-level schemes that provide almost free or highly subsidized oncology care. Various national level schemes like Ayushman Bharat (PM-JAY), the Health Minister’s Cancer Patient Fund (HMCPF), and Rashtriya Arogya Nidhi (RAN) provide financial assistance, cashless treatment, and support for the most life-saving cancer drugs, especially for BPL families. Moreover, most states have cancer care programs. For instance, Andhra Pradesh’s Dr. YSR Aarogyasri and Telangana’s Aarogyasri Scheme cover ₹5–10 lakh and provide cashless treatment, whereas Tamil Nadu’s CMCHIS and Karnataka’s Arogya Karnataka help in free or subsidized chemo, radiation, and cancer surgeries. Similarly, Kerala’s KASP, Maharashtra’s MJPJAY, Gujarat’s MA Vatsalya, and Rajasthan’s Chiranjeevi Scheme cover a wide range from ₹2–10 lakh for comprehensive cancer care. While Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Himachal Pradesh, and Jammu & Kashmir offer free treatment through state programs supported by PM-JAY benefits that mostly help in expensive surgeries and pediatric cancers, the eastern and northeastern states of Bihar, Odisha, Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, Nagaland, Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh, and Sikkim provide free diagnostics, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and other cancer services through schemes like PM-JAY, BSKY, BSSY, Atal Amrit Abhiyan, MHIS, and regional cancer care networks. In brief, India’s union and state government programs, in tandem, are a safety net for the cancer patients and fairly close to universal health coverage. They eliminate the possibility of a financial catastrophe accompanying the access to basic cancer treatments for patients, whatever their income and geographical location may be.
