Financial assistance under the Rashtriya Arogya Nidhi, RAN, to designated Central Government hospitals and institutes, has been increased to Rs 5 lakh from existing Rs 2 lakh. A Health Ministry release said, the assistance will be given in cases where emergency surgery is to be conducted. <br/><br/>The RAN was set up in 1997 to provide financial assistance to patients, living below poverty line prescribed from time to time and who are suffering from major life threatening diseases related to heart, liver, kidney and cancer cases. Cases for financial assistance beyond Rs 5 lakh will now be required to be referred to Ministry of Health.