J&K Govt revises cancer aid scheme, raises income limit to Rs 4 lakh

Srinagar, Aug 31: The Jammu and Kashmir Government has substantially revised the Cancer Treatment & Management Fund for Patients (CTMFP) scheme, expanding eligibility and increasing financial assistance for economically weaker cancer patients across the Union Territory.
According to Government Order No. 1456-JK(GAD) of 2026, issued by the General Administration Department on August 31, the revised provisions aim to strengthen financial support for cancer patients while complementing the treatment coverage available under the Ayushman Bharat-PMJAY-SEHAT scheme.
The CTMFP was launched in 2010 with the objective of facilitating early detection and treatment of cancer by providing financial assistance to patients belonging to economically weaker sections. The government said that while a substantial component of inpatient cancer treatment is now covered under AB-PMJAY-SEHAT, patients continue to incur considerable expenditure on OPD treatment, diagnostics, medicines and other related expenses.
Under the revised scheme, the earlier monthly family-income eligibility ceiling of Rs 20,000 has been replaced with an annual family-income ceiling of Rs 4 lakh.
The quantum of financial assistance has also been revised. Eligible cancer patients with an annual family income of up to Rs 3 lakh will be entitled to Rs 75,000, while those having an annual family income of above Rs 3 lakh and up to Rs 4 lakh will be eligible for Rs 50,000.
The government has further allowed the financial assistance to be sanctioned for a maximum of three times, with each subsequent sanction becoming admissible only after the expiry of 365 days from the date of the immediately preceding sanction.
For subsequent assistance, beneficiaries will be required to furnish a fresh medical certificate confirming continuation of treatment, the latest income certificate and a certificate regarding admissibility of the proposed amount under the scheme.
The revised order also provides that patients who have already availed the existing one-time assistance under CTMFP will remain eligible for the second and third sanctions, as applicable under the revised income slabs, subject to fulfilment of the prescribed conditions.
To facilitate faster disbursement, applicants will now be required to provide their bank account number, Aadhaar number and contact number while forwarding each case.
The sanctioned financial assistance will be released directly into the beneficiary’s bank account through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) by the concerned Deputy Commissioner.
The concerned Deputy Commissioner has been directed to ensure that the sanctioned amount is credited to the beneficiary’s bank account within 72 hours of release of funds by the Chief Minister’s Secretariat.
The government has also expanded the list of hospitals and institutions eligible under the scheme. All government hospitals, Government Medical Colleges and other government institutions providing cancer treatment will be covered.
Besides these institutions, private hospitals registered, recognised and empanelled by the Government of Jammu and Kashmir or the Government of India under the Ayushman Bharat-PMJAY-SEHAT scheme will also be deemed eligible for registration under CTMFP.
The order also revises the source of funding provisions of the scheme, increasing the specified contribution figures from Rs 240, Rs 120, Rs 20 and Rs 10 to Rs 480, Rs 240, Rs 40 and Rs 20, respectively.
The government stated that all other provisions, terms and conditions of Government Order No. 779-GAD of 2010 dated July 6, 2010, shall continue to remain in force except to the extent specifically modified by the latest order.
The revised scheme has been issued with the concurrence of the Finance Department conveyed through its Office Memorandum dated July 7, 2026, and the order has been issued by M. Raju, IAS, Commissioner/Secretary to the Government, General Administration Department. (JKNS)