Under the Ni-kshay Poshan Yojana (NPY)—a Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) scheme launched by India’s Ministry of Health and Family Welfare under the National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme (NTEP)—TB patients receive financial support to meet their dietary requirements during care.
Financial Support Provided
- Monthly Cash Assistance: Each notified TB patient receives ₹1,000 per month for the entire duration of their treatment.
- Total Payment Duration: The financial support is paid continuously throughout the treatment regimen. For standard TB treatment lasting six months, a patient receives a total of ₹6,000. For multi-drug resistant TB (MDR-TB) or extended treatments lasting 9–24 months, payments continue monthly for as long as active treatment is underway.
Key Features of the Financial Assistance
- Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT): Funds are credited directly into the Aadhaar-linked savings bank account of the beneficiary via the Public Financial Management System (PFMS) to ensure transparency and avoid delays.
- Universal Eligibility: All TB patients notified on the official NIKSHAY portal—whether receiving treatment in public government hospitals or private healthcare facilities—are eligible.
- No Alternate Income Criteria: The scheme is non-means-tested, meaning financial aid is available to all patients regardless of income level.
- Energy-Dense Nutritional Supplementation (EDNS): Severely underweight patients (BMI < 18.5 kg/m²) may receive additional food-based nutritional support during the first two critical months of treatment Alongside the cash benefit.
How to Receive the Assistance
- Notification & NIKSHAY Registration: The treating healthcare provider (public or private) registers the patient’s case on the government’s NIKSHAY portal.
- Bank Account Details: The patient submits their active bank account details (passbook copy or canceled check) along with their Aadhaar details to the health provider.
- Validation & Payout: Once the bank details are verified by PFMS, monthly disbursements commence via SMS-alerted bank transfers.
