Nagpur: For the first time, the Chief Minister’s Medical Assistance Fund (CMMAF) has introduced a dedicated financial assistance scheme for the diagnosis of childhood cancer, aimed at preventing delays caused by the high cost of diagnostic tests.A tripartite agreement has been signed between CMMAF, Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) and Tata Memorial Centre (TMC) to implement the programme.Under the initiative, 200 economically disadvantaged children aged 0 to 18 years across Maharashtra will receive financial assistance for initial and advanced medical investigations required to confirm cancer.In the first two months of the programme, 59 children have already received financial assistance worth Rs 50 lakh. All of them underwent cancer diagnosis at Tata Memorial Hospital in Mumbai.Rameshwar Naik, chief of the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund and Charitable Hospitals Assistance Cell, appealed to eligible beneficiaries to contact the toll-free helpline 1800-123-2211 for further information.
