Health Minister's Discretionary Grant 2026 - Eligibility, Benefits & How to Apply

Health Minister's Discretionary Grant 2026 is a central scheme from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and applications for it are accepted through government hospitals for poor patients who cannot afford treatment for serious illnesses.

Families with total annual income up to ₹1,25,000 can apply for this grant. The support amount depends on the estimated treatment cost and can go up to ₹1,25,000. Applications are accepted through the treating government hospital, and online mode is also available now in hospitals linked to the National Health Authority platform.

Health Minister's Discretionary Grant 2026 - Introduction

This scheme is one part of the Umbrella Scheme of Rashtriya Arogya Nidhi (RAN) run by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. It helps poor patients cover part of their hospital expenses for life threatening illnesses related to heart, kidney, liver, cancer and similar conditions, when they get treated in government hospitals or government super specialty institutes. The final approval for the grant is given by the Ministry itself.

Under the same umbrella scheme, Rashtriya Arogya Nidhi gives up to ₹15 lakh for treatment, and ₹20 lakh for rare diseases. Health Minister's Discretionary Grant is a separate part with a maximum support of ₹1.25 lakh. Eligible people who need treatment that is not covered under Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY can also apply through this route.

Key Information

Benefits

This scheme gives direct cash support to help with treatment costs in government facilities. The grant amount is fixed based on the estimated cost of treatment, as per the latest guidelines of the Ministry. The support slabs are given below.

For example, if the hospital estimates the total treatment cost at ₹1.5 lakh, the eligible patient can get ₹1 lakh from this grant.

Eligibility

Before applying, check whether the family meets these conditions:

• Total annual family income should not be more than ₹1,25,000. For example, if Ramesh earns ₹8,000 per month and his spouse has no income, the family income stays within the limit, so he can apply.
• The patient should be getting treatment or be admitted in a government hospital or a government super specialty institute.
• The patient should not be a central or state government employee.

Exclusions

This grant does not cover some situations. Keep these points in mind before applying:

• Treatment that needs regular expenses over a long period is not covered.
• Common illnesses where treatment is not expensive are not covered.
• Tuberculosis (TB) cases are not covered because free TB treatment is already available under the national TB control programme.
• Treatment in private hospitals is not covered.
• People working in central or state government cannot get this grant.
• Money already spent on treatment before applying is not reimbursed.

Application Process

Applications for this grant are accepted in both offline and online mode. The mode depends on whether the treating hospital is linked to the National Health Authority (NHA) IT platform.

STEP 1 - Get the prescribed application form from the treating government hospital or from the official website of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

STEP 2 - Fill the form with the help of the treating doctor or the head of the department. The form must be countersigned by the Medical Superintendent of the hospital where the patient is getting treatment.

STEP 3 - Submit the filled form at the hospital along with the income proof, ration card or PM-JAY ID, and complete Aadhaar authentication, which is required for the application.

STEP 4 - In hospitals linked to the NHA platform, the hospital creates a RAN ID for the eligible patient and the application is processed online through the Transaction Management System. In other hospitals, the application is sent to the Ministry for final approval. Once approved, the grant is released to the treating hospital or institute.

Patients from Odisha and West Bengal are not covered under Ayushman Bharat, so for them only the manual application process is accepted by the Ministry.

Documents

Keep these documents ready before applying:

• The prescribed application form, filled by the treating doctor and countersigned by the Medical Superintendent of the hospital.
• Original income certificate from BDO, Tehsildar, Collector or SDM, showing the family income and the issuing officer's name, designation, phone number and office stamp.
• Ration card number or PM-JAY ID or eligible SECC family details for verification.
• A copy of the ration card for address proof, and Aadhaar authentication which is mandatory.

References

Official HMDG page - Ministry of Health and Family Welfare

HMDG Guidelines PDF - Ministry of Health and Family Welfare

Financial Assistance to Poor - Vikaspedia

FAQ's

What is the maximum amount I can get under Health Minister's Discretionary Grant?

The maximum support is ₹1,25,000. The exact amount depends on the estimated treatment cost. For treatment cost up to ₹1,25,000 the grant is ₹75,000, for cost between ₹1,25,000 and ₹1,75,000 the grant is ₹1,00,000, and for cost above ₹1,75,000 the grant is ₹1,25,000.

What is the income limit to apply for this grant?

The total annual family income should not be more than ₹1,25,000. Families above this limit cannot apply.

Can I apply online for this grant?

Yes, in states and hospitals that are linked to the National Health Authority IT platform, the hospital generates a RAN ID for the eligible patient and the application moves online through the Transaction Management System. In other hospitals, the application is submitted offline through the Medical Superintendent's office.

Is the grant paid as a lump sum?

The grant is given as a one-time amount, either directly or as per the requirement of the treatment plan. Money already spent before the application is not reimbursed.

Who cannot apply for this grant?

Central and state government employees cannot apply. Patients getting treatment for TB, patients in private hospitals, and families with income above ₹1,25,000 are also not covered.

Can I use this grant for treatment in a private hospital?

No. This grant is only for treatment in government hospitals or government institutes.

Is Aadhaar required for the application?

Yes, Aadhaar authentication is mandatory. Along with it, the patient needs the ration card number or PM-JAY ID or eligible SECC family details.