Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan approves National Policy for Rare Diseases 2021

The Union Health Minister Dr. Harsh Vardhan approved the “National Policy for Rare Diseases 2021” on March 30, 2021.
Aim: To lower the high cost of treatment for rare diseases, with greater focus on indigenous research and local production of medicines.
The government has proposed a provision for financial support up to Rs 20 lakh for the treatment of those rare diseases that require a one-time treatment (diseases listed under Group 1 in the rare disease policy).
This financial support for treatment of rare diseases is proposed under the Umbrella Scheme of Rastriya Arogya Nidhi (RAN) and not under Ayushman Bharat PMJAY.
The Beneficiaries for such financial assistance will cover about 40 percent of the population who are eligible under the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana.