Menu
Finances
Funding Schemes for Cancer patients
Point of Comparison
Swasthya Sathi Scheme
West Bengal Health Scheme
HMCPF (Health Minister’s Cancer Patients Fund)
HMDG (Health Minister’s Discretionary Grant)
CGHS (Central Government Health Scheme)
National Health Protection Scheme (PMJAY)
Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund
Chief Minister’s Relief Fund
Category of Funding Scheme
State Government
State Government
Central Government
Central Government
Central Government
Central Government
Central Government
State Government
Organisation Name
Department of Health and Family Welfare, Government of West Bengal
Department of Health and Family Welfare, Government of West Bengal
Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India
Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India
Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India
Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India
Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India
Chief Minister’s Office, Government of West Bengal
Type of Cancers and Therapies Covered
All types of cancers
All types of cancers
All types of cancers
All types of cancers
All types of cancers
All types of cancers
All types of cancers
All types of cancers
Scheme Eligibility
Permanent residents of West Bengal
– Not enrolled in any other scheme
West Bengal government employees, Superannuated employees and Family pensioners
BPL families
– Treatment in Regional Cancer Centers (RCCs) only
Annual family income ≤ INR 1,25,000
Retired central govt. employees, pensioners, freedom fighters, and dependents
BPL families under SECC criteria
Indigent patients with major diseases
Permanent residents of West Bengal
– Family income ≤ INR 1,20,000
Scheme Details
Cashless treatment for all pre-existing diseases, paperless process, smart card
Cashless medical treatment for employees and pensioners
Financial assistance for treatment in RCCs, up to ₹2,00,000
Assistance for treatment in government hospitals
Cashless treatment for central govt. employees, outpatient and inpatient services
Up to ₹5 lakh for BPL families for hospitalization
Partial coverage for heart surgery, kidney transplant, cancer
Financial assistance for medical treatment expenses
Scheme Coverage
INR 5 lakh per annum per family for secondary and tertiary care
Cashless indoor treatment up to ₹1 lakh (for private empanelled hospitals)
INR 2 lakh per treatment cycle
Up to INR 1.25 lakh, depending on treatment cost
Cashless treatment for empanelled hospitals
₹5 lakh per family per year for hospitalization
Partial coverage for treatment in empaneled hospitals
N/A
Documents Required
Swasthya Sathi Smart Card
Service ID card
Citizenship documents, income certificate etc.
Application form, income certificate, ration card
CGHS health card
Biometrics, NHP card
Application, medical certificate, income proof
Treatment papers, income certificate, recommen
dation from elected representatives
dation from elected representatives
Cap/Limit (if any)
₹5 lakh per family per annum
₹1 lakh for private hospital treatment
₹2 lakh per treatment cycle
₹75,000 to ₹1.25 lakh depending on treatment cost
Based on salary level (INR 250-1000 monthly)
₹5 lakh per family per year
No specific cap
No specific cap
Remarks
Online smart card-based, real-time monitoring of treatment
Limited to state government employees and pensioners
Only available at designated RCCs for BPL patients
Application requires documents from government hospitals
Covers both outpatient and inpatient services
Covers hospitalization and major surgeries, including cancer treatment
Provides partial coverage for major diseases like cancer
Assistance for economically distressed residents
Key Observations:
•Swasthya Sathi and WBHS are state-run schemes, targeting low-income residents and government employees in West Bengal. Both offer significant financial assistance for cancer treatments, with cashless services for Swasthya Sathi and reimbursement for WBHS.
•HMCPF provides up to ₹2 lakhs for BPL families for treatment at designated cancer centers, but non-BPL individuals and those already employed by the government are ineligible.
• HMDG offers financial support for low-income cancer patients in government hospitals, with a tiered system of support based on treatment costs (₹75,000 to ₹1,25,000).
• CGHS offers cashless treatment for central government employees and pensioners, including for cancer, but is restricted to central government personnel.
•PMJAY (National Health Protection Scheme) provides free healthcare for BPL families, offering coverage for hospitalization and surgeries including cancer care.
•The PM National Relief Fund and Chief Minister’s Relief Fund provide emergency financial support for major illnesses, including cancer, but they focus on financial need and emergency treatment rather than ongoing care.
This comparative table gives a clear understanding of which scheme is most applicable depending on the eligibility of the individual, the level of financial support available, and the treatment settings (private hospitals vs. government hospitals).
Crowdfunding Platforms
List of Crowdfunding platforms for cancer patients –
Platform Name
Impact Guru
Ketto
Milaap
GiveIndia
BeDonor
Category
Crowdfunding
Crowdfunding
Crowdfunding
Charitable Giving Platform
Crowdfunding
Target Users
Individuals, organizations, healthcare providers
Individuals, healthcare providers, NGOs
Individuals, NGOs, healthcare institutions
Individuals, NGOs, corporate organizations
Individuals, institutions, and NGOs
Scheme/Service
Medical emergency, surgery, cancer treatment
Medical emergency, surgery, cancer treatment
Medical treatment, cancer care, emergency treatment, surgeries
Medical treatment, cancer-related expenses, healthcare emergencies
Medical conditions, cancer treatment, education, disaster relief
Platform Details
No loans, no payback, flexible timeline
Crowdfunding for medical emergencies, easy access to raise funds
Effortless setup, mobile app integration for easy tracking and promotion
Trusted platform for donations, also offers corporate giving and cause marketing
Global platform for raising funds for medical emergencies and other causes
Funds Raised
Varies by campaign
Varies by campaign
Varies by campaign
Varies by campaign
Varies by campaign
Payment Model
Donor and campaign fees
Platform and payment processing fee
No setup fee, fees on transaction
No upfront cost for setting up campaigns
Donor and platform fees
Platform Fees
5% platform fee + 2% payment gateway charge
5% platform fee + 2% payment gateway charge
5% platform fee + 2% payment gateway charge
No fees on donations, small transaction fees
5% platform fee + 2% payment gateway charge
Donor Engagement
Engage through social media sharing, email, SMS updates
Easy social mediaEasy social media integration for donor outreach
Integration with social media, mobile app to engage donors
Donor tracking, easy donation process
Social media engagement, donor feedback features
Withdrawal Process
Funds are transferred directly to the hospital, medical institution, or beneficiary’s bank account
Direct bank transfer or hospital account transfer
Funds transferred to designated hospital or beneficiary
Funds are transferred to beneficiary’s bank account
Funds directly transferred to the beneficiary
Additional Features
No cost for setting up, free consultations, social media integration for sharing
Extensive donor tracking, recurring donations feature, easy management
Options for installment-based fundraising, tax benefits on donations
Options for corporate partnerships, tax-exempt donations
International reach, multi-currency support, wide network of donors
Summary:
• ImpactGuru offers a no payback, no loan model and is great for social media sharing with direct transfers to hospitals.
• Ketto is known for easy access to raise funds, strong social media engagement, and corporate partnerships.
• Milaap provides a mobile-friendly platform, social media integration, and tax benefits for donations, making it easy to manage.
• GiveIndia is a trusted charity platform offering corporate partnerships, and is focused on transparent donations.
• BeDonor stands out for its global reach, multi-currency support, and a wider donor network.
Each platform has its unique features, making them suitable for different kinds of fundraising campaigns depending on your needs and target audience.