Gujarat CM Relief Fund extends over Rs 31 crore aid to 2,106 cancer patients
Ahmedabad, Dec 14 The Gujarat state government-run Chief Minister's Relief Fund (CMRF) has disbursed more than Rs 31.55 crore to support 2,106 cancer patients between the years 2021 and 2025. This financial assistance has significantly improved access to healthcare services for people belonging to economically weaker sections, officials stated on Sunday.
The relief fund has emerged as a crucial support system during times of crisis, particularly during natural calamities, accidents, and critical illnesses that often place poor and middle-class families under severe financial stress, as per agency report. An official highlighted that the fund provides financial aid for serious ailments such as cancer, heart disease, kidney and liver failure, as well as for organ transplants. Under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, the fund has facilitated timely life-saving treatments, including bone marrow transplants, for 450 patients suffering from blood cancer and 1,656 patients battling other forms of cancer.
Beneficiaries receiving treatment at prominent institutions have availed of this financial assistance. These institutions include the Gujarat Cancer and Research Institute (GCRI) in Ahmedabad, the Nathlal Parekh Cancer Research Institute and B.T. Savani Hospital in Rajkot, the Bharat Cancer Hospital and Kiran Multi Super Specialty Hospital in Surat, as well as AAIHMS.
Underscoring the impact of this initiative, GCRI Director Shashank Pandya noted that cancer treatment is prohibitively expensive, which often forces many patients to discontinue their treatment midway. He explained that such patients can apply to the CMRF to receive necessary financial support. This assistance not only helps in extending the life span of the patient but also provides much-needed relief to the patient and their entire family. Pandya confirmed that under the CMRF, funds have already been disbursed to at least 450 blood cancer patients and 1,656 patients suffering from other types of cancer.
According to government guidelines, individuals with an annual income of less than Rs 4 lakh are eligible to apply for assistance, while the income limit for senior citizens is set at Rs 6 lakh.
