Rashtriya Arogya Nidhi (RAN) previously known as National Illness Assistance Fund (NIAF) was set up under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in 1997 with an initial contribution of Rs. five crore. Funds have also been set up in the following 21 States/UTs (with Legislature)- Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Tripura, Andhra Pradesh, Tamilnadu, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Maharastra, West Bengal, Kerala, Mizoram, Rajasthan, Goa, Gujarat, Sikkim, Bihar, Chhatisgarh, Jharkhand, Uttarakhand, NCT of Delhi and Pondicherry. These States/union territories have been released grant- in- aid as admissible under the scheme. Other states have been requested to set up the fund. All five Union Territories (without Legislature) Lakshdweep,. Daman & Diu, Dadra & Nagar Haveli, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Chandigarh have also set up this fund. Medical Superintendents of three Central Government Hospitals and three Institutes of national repute,viz., Dr.RamManohar Lohia Hospital, Safdarjang Hospital, Lady Hardinge Medical College and Smt. Sucheta Kripalani Hospital, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, all in New Delhi, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh and Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research, Pondicherry have been sanctioned funds from Rashtriya Arogya Nidhi to provide immediate financial assistance up to Rs. 50,000 per case to patients living below the poverty line. This scheme was subsequently extended to the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Bangalore, Chittranjan National Cancer Institute., Kolkatta, Sanjay Gandhi Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow, Gandhi Memorial Hospital and King George Medical College, Lucknow and the Central Institute of Psychiatry Ranchi by giving them similar advance funds. These funds are replenished from time to time. Poor patients get financial assistance from these schemes.