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Delhi Arogya Kosh (DAK): Up to ₹5 Lakh for Hospital Treatment in Delhi

Delhi Arogya Kosh is a Delhi Government scheme for people who can't pay for hospital treatment on their own. If your family earns ₹3 lakh or less a year and you've lived in Delhi for at least 3 years, you can get up to ₹5 lakh to cover treatment costs at a government hospital. The money goes straight to the hospital — you don't have to pay first and claim later.
Health Scheme Delhi Residents Up to ₹5 Lakh Income below ₹3 Lakh/Year Govt. Hospitals Only
Download Application Form View on myScheme.gov.in
₹5 Lakh
Max Help
₹3 Lakh
Income Limit/Year
3 Years
Delhi Residency
Free
To Apply
Written by · Last Updated: 20 June 2026 · Source: DGHS Delhi · myScheme.gov.in

What is Delhi Arogya Kosh?

Delhi Arogya Kosh — or DAK — is a society set up by the Delhi Government to help people who can't afford the cost of serious medical treatment. It runs under the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) and can pay up to ₹5 lakh per patient.

The scheme covers treatment at government hospitals — whether that's a Delhi Government hospital, a Central Government hospital, AIIMS, or any autonomous hospital under the state. Private hospitals are not covered for regular treatment, but there's a separate path for surgeries where the wait is too long at a government hospital (more on that below).

DAK also pays for certain diagnostic tests — things like Ultrasound, Mammography, EEG, TMT, ECHO, PET scan — at empanelled diagnostic centres, for patients already registered at GNCTD hospitals or polyclinics.

One thing to know upfront: DAK doesn't hand money to the patient. Once the application is approved, the amount is sent directly to the hospital through bank transfer. The patient is told about it by Speed Post and phone.

What You Get Under Delhi Arogya Kosh

Up to ₹5 Lakh
For any illness or surgery at a government hospital. Sent directly to the hospital
Free Diagnostic Tests
Ultrasound, Doppler, Mammography, EEG, EMG, TMT, ECHO, PET scan at empanelled centres
Surgery at Private Hospital
If your surgery wait at a GNCTD hospital is over one month after PAC, you can be sent to a NABH private hospital. No income bar for this

Who approves how much?

Amount Needed Approved By
Up to ₹25,000 DGHS — no extra approvals needed
₹25,001 to ₹1.5 lakh DGHS + Finance Department, Delhi Govt.
₹1.5 lakh to ₹5 lakh Chairman, Delhi Arogya Kosh

Who Can Apply for Delhi Arogya Kosh

Three things all need to be true at the same time:

Income
Family earns ₹3 lakh or less per year
Delhi Residency
Lived in Delhi for at least 3 years before the date you apply
Hospital
Getting treated at a Delhi Govt., Central Govt., AIIMS, or autonomous state hospital
Free Surgery (Special Case)
Any Delhi resident can get referred to an empanelled private hospital for surgery — income doesn't matter here
About the free surgery rule: If you're being treated at a GNCTD hospital and your surgery date is more than a month away after PAC (pre-anaesthesia check), the doctor can refer you to a NABH-accredited private hospital under DAK. This applies to all Delhi residents — no income check needed for this path.

How to Apply for Delhi Arogya Kosh

There's no online application. The whole process runs through the government hospital where you're already a patient. Here's what happens:

1

Get the Application Form

Download it from the Delhi Health Department site, or pick it up from the Patient Welfare Cell at your hospital. You or anyone on your behalf can fill it.

2

Get the Cost Estimate from Your Doctor

Your treating doctor needs to give you a written estimate — mentioning your illness, the treatment needed, and the expected cost. The Medical Superintendent of the hospital has to sign off on it. This is the most important document in your application.

3

Attach All Documents and Submit

Attach the income proof, address proof, treatment records, two photos (attested by your doctor), and the cost estimate. Submit the full set at the Medical Superintendent's office of your hospital.

4

Hospital Sends It to DGHS

The hospital processes the application and forwards it to the Director General of Health Services through e-office. From there, depending on the amount, it goes to the Finance Department or Chairman DAK for approval.

5

Money Goes Directly to the Hospital

Once approved, the amount is transferred to the hospital by bank transfer. You'll get a Speed Post letter — and a phone call if a contact number was given.

For identified surgeries at private hospitals, check the list of DAK empanelled hospitals on the Delhi Health site before going ahead.

Documents You Need for Delhi Arogya Kosh

Income Proof — Any One

  • 1National Food Security Card — works if family income is below ₹1 lakh per year
  • 2Income certificate from your area SDM — needed if income is between ₹1 lakh and ₹3 lakh per year

Proof that You've Lived in Delhi for 3 Years — Any One

  • 1Domicile certificate from area SDM
  • 2Ration Card
  • 3Voter ID (EPIC)
  • 4Driving License
  • 5Passport
  • 6Extract from Electoral Roll
  • 7Aadhaar Card

Medical Documents

  • 1Original cost estimate from your treating doctor — mentioning the disease, treatment required, and expected cost — signed by the hospital's Medical Superintendent
  • 2Two photographs of the patient, attested by the treating doctor
  • 3Photocopies of your treatment papers
If the patient is a child: You'll need the child's birth certificate, plus the address proof of either parent from the list above.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Delhi Arogya Kosh?
It's a Delhi Government scheme that pays for hospital treatment of people who can't afford it. You can get up to ₹5 lakh for treatment at government hospitals — Delhi Govt., Central Govt., AIIMS, or state autonomous hospitals. The money goes to the hospital, not the patient.
How much money does Delhi Arogya Kosh give?
Up to ₹5 lakh per patient. How much you actually get depends on what the treating doctor estimates the treatment will cost. Small amounts (up to ₹25,000) are approved quickly by DGHS. Larger amounts need approvals from the Finance Department or Chairman DAK.
What is the income limit for this scheme?
Family income must be ₹3 lakh or less per year. If it's below ₹1 lakh, a National Food Security Card works. Between ₹1 lakh and ₹3 lakh, you need an income certificate from your area SDM.
Do I need to be a Delhi resident for how long?
At least 3 years before the date you submit your application. Aadhaar, Voter ID, Ration Card, Passport, Driving License, or an extract from the electoral roll — any one of these works as proof.
Can I use this scheme if I'm at a private hospital?
Not for regular treatment. DAK covers government hospitals only. The exception is if you're already a patient at a GNCTD hospital and your surgery is scheduled more than a month away after PAC — in that case, the doctor can refer you to an empanelled private NABH hospital under DAK.
Does DAK cover diagnostic tests like ultrasound and PET scan?
Yes. For eligible patients in GNCTD hospitals and polyclinics, DAK covers Ultrasound, Doppler, Mammography, EEG, EMG, TMT, ECHO, PET scan, and Radio-nucleotide scan at empanelled diagnostic centres.
Does the patient get the money in hand?
No. The approved amount is transferred directly to the government hospital's account by bank transfer. The patient is told separately — by Speed Post letter and phone if a number was provided.
Where do I submit the application?
At the Medical Superintendent's office of your government hospital. The hospital then handles sending it forward. You can also contact the Patient Welfare Cell at Room No. 1, 6th Floor, DGHS, F-17, Karkardooma, New Delhi — Tel: 011-22306851.
Is there a fee to apply?
No. There's no fee. The process is completely free.
What is the most important document in this application?
The original cost estimate from your treating doctor — mentioning the illness, treatment required, and expected cost — signed by the hospital's Medical Superintendent. Without this, the application won't move forward.

Need help with a medical bill in Delhi?

Download the form and take it to your government hospital to start the process.

Download Application Form View on myScheme.gov.in

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This page uses information from health.delhigovt.nic.in and myscheme.gov.in. Rules and eligibility conditions can change — check the official site or visit your nearest government hospital before applying. JanLaabh.in is not part of the Delhi Government or any government body.