Kohima: Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe patients in Nagaland can now claim up to 3.5 lakh for life-threatening ailments under the revised 2026 Dr. Ambedkar Medical Aid Scheme. The federal Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment runs the program to cover major surgeries and specialized care for low-income families. Only those with an annual family income of 5 lakh or less qualify for the payout.
Cash caps vary by condition. Kidney transplants and dialysis receive the maximum 3.5 lakh. Cancer treatments qualify for 2.5 lakh, while brain surgeries net 2 lakh. Heart and spinal surgeries receive 1.5 lakh each. The foundation covers the total estimated cost up to these limits. Payments go directly to the hospital. "Beneficiaries covered under PM-JAY may also be eligible for assistance towards kidney or organ transplantation, subject to the conditions of the scheme," the guidelines state.
Patients must choose from approved facilities like AIIMS centers, Tata Cancer Research Institute, or state-recognized hospitals. You need a formal cost estimate from the medical superintendent and verified caste and income documents to apply. Send your paperwork to the Dr. Ambedkar Foundation in New Delhi at least 15 days before your procedure. The Chümoukedima Deputy Commissioner is currently pushing for wider local awareness of these benefits.
Updated at 11th September 2026 at 2:00pm
The scope of coverage now explicitly includes liver conditions and chemotherapy or radiotherapy for cancer patients. While PM-JAY beneficiaries can still seek support for organ transplants, the guidelines clarify that kidney transplantation is specifically excluded from PM-JAY coverage, opening the door for this scheme to fill the gap.
Applicants must file through the official Dr. Ambedkar Foundation website or submit a plain paper application in the prescribed format. Beyond the cost estimate, patients need to provide a ration card or Aadhaar card and a passport-sized photograph. Kidney transplant cases require extra paperwork detailing the relationship between the donor and recipient.
The list of approved facilities is extensive. Alongside AIIMS and Tata Cancer Research Institute, patients can seek care at the Sanjay Gandhi Post Graduate Institute in Lucknow, B Barua Cancer Institute in Guwahati, Birla Heart Foundation in Kolkata, Kalinga Hospital in Bhubaneswar, Nizam Institute of Medical Sciences in Hyderabad, and The Voluntary Health Services in Chennai. CGHS-approved facilities and state-run medical colleges also qualify.
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