Gandhinagar: The Gujarat Government has launched a new health assistance scheme for Scheduled Tribe (ST) patients suffering from serious and life-threatening diseases. The scheme has been allocated ₹2 crore for the financial year 2026-27 to help economically weaker tribal families access advanced medical treatments, including organ transplantation and robotic surgeries.
The initiative has been launched under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel by the Tribal Development Department. The department, headed by Tribal Development Minister Nareshbhai Patel and Minister of State P.C. Baranda, has granted administrative approval for the implementation of the scheme.
Gujarat’s New Health Scheme to Support Tribal Patients
The scheme aims to provide financial assistance to Scheduled Tribe patients who face high treatment costs for critical illnesses.
Officially titled “Scheme for Providing Assistance for Operations Including Organ Transplantation and Robotic Surgery for Patients Belonging to the Scheduled Tribe Community of the State,” the programme will support major medical procedures such as:
- Kidney transplantation
- Liver transplantation
- Heart transplantation
- Pancreas transplantation
- Other eligible organ transplant procedures
- Advanced robotic surgeries
The assistance will help patients meet eligible expenses that remain unpaid after benefits under existing government health schemes are exhausted.
₹2 Crore Allocated for 2026-27 Financial Year
The Gujarat Government has allocated ₹2 crore for the first year of the scheme.
The objective is to reduce the financial burden on tribal families requiring expensive medical treatment and ensure that eligible patients can access modern healthcare facilities.
The scheme will operate under specific government-approved conditions, and financial assistance will be provided only for eligible treatment expenses.
IKDRC Ahmedabad Appointed as Nodal Agency
The government has appointed the Institute of Kidney Diseases and Research Centre (IKDRC), Ahmedabad, as the nodal agency for implementing the scheme.
IKDRC will be responsible for:
- Processing applications.
- Verifying treatment details.
- Providing necessary approvals.
- Coordinating with hospitals.
- Monitoring transplant-related cases.
Patients must approach IKDRC before undergoing treatment to receive approval under the scheme.
Assistance Available After PM-JAY and MA Scheme Benefits
Under the new scheme, financial assistance will be calculated after deducting the amount already covered under:
- Ayushman Bharat–Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY)
- Mukhyamantri Amrutam (MA) Scheme
The remaining eligible amount will be provided under the new tribal health assistance programme.
Example:
If an organ transplant at IKDRC costs ₹6 lakh and PM-JAY provides ₹3 lakh, the remaining ₹3 lakh will be covered under the new scheme.
Financial Support Limited to Government-Approved Rates
The Gujarat Government has clarified that assistance will be provided according to government-approved treatment rates.
If treatment is taken at a private hospital, the financial support will not exceed the approved cost limit.
For example:
- A private hospital charges ₹10 lakh for a transplant.
- The approved treatment cost at IKDRC is ₹6 lakh.
- PM-JAY has already provided ₹3 lakh.
In such a case, the beneficiary will receive assistance of up to ₹3 lakh under the new scheme, based on the approved rate.
Eligibility Criteria for Scheduled Tribe Beneficiaries
To avail benefits under the scheme, applicants must fulfil the following conditions:
- The patient must belong to the Scheduled Tribe community of Gujarat.
- A valid caste certificate must be submitted.
- The beneficiary must have a PM-JAY or MA card.
- Prior approval from IKDRC is mandatory before treatment.
- Clinical approval from the IKDRC Transplant Committee is required for transplant procedures.
The government has also clarified that organ donors can belong to any community, but financial assistance under this scheme will be available only to eligible tribal beneficiaries.
School Health Programme Children Excluded
Children who are already covered under the School Health Programme will not be included under this scheme.
Such children are already eligible for free medical treatment through the existing programme, according to government guidelines.
Online Application and DBT-Based Payment System
To ensure transparency, the Gujarat Government has decided to conduct the complete application and approval process online.
The scheme will include:
- Online application submission.
- Digital approval process.
- Transparent verification system.
Financial assistance will be provided through:
- Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) system, or
- Chief Minister’s Dashboard Portal
as per government norms.
Social Audit and Third-Party Monitoring Planned
The Gujarat Government will conduct regular monitoring of the scheme through:
- Periodic social reviews.
- Third-party verification.
- Evaluation reports submitted to the state government.
These measures will help track implementation, ensure transparency, and improve healthcare support for Scheduled Tribe communities.
Gujarat Aims to Improve Access to Advanced Healthcare for Tribal Families
Through this new health assistance scheme, the Gujarat Government aims to provide financial protection to tribal families facing expensive medical procedures.
By supporting organ transplants and robotic surgeries beyond the coverage limits of PM-JAY and the Mukhyamantri Amrutam scheme, the initiative seeks to make advanced healthcare more accessible for vulnerable Scheduled Tribe patients.
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