Kolkata: West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Saturday announced the rollout of the Centre's flagship health insurance scheme Ayushman Bharat in the state from July, bringing more than 6 crore residents previously enrolled in the state's Swasthya Sathi programme within its ambit. Enrollment under Ayushman Bharat has already commenced, and beneficiaries will start receiving their cards by July, he said.
Transition from Swasthya Sathi to Ayushman Bharat
"We expect that more than 6 crore Swasthya Sathi cardholders can immediately be brought under Ayushman Bharat. More people will be able to join the scheme in phases," Adhikari stated, adding that nearly one crore Bengal residents living in other states will also receive Ayushman benefits. He did not specify how the transition of beneficiaries from Swasthya Sathi to Ayushman Bharat will take place. The agreement for Ayushman Arogya Mandir will be signed in Delhi within the first week of June, he added.
Financial Package and Healthcare Infrastructure
Adhikari, speaking at Nabanna after a virtual meeting with Union Health Minister JP Nadda, said the Centre has sanctioned a financial package of Rs 3,000 crore to revamp the state's ailing healthcare infrastructure, of which the first instalment of Rs 500 crore has already been credited. Of this package, Rs 2,103 crore has been sanctioned under the National Health Mission and Rs 976 crore to implement Ayushman Bharat. At least 469 more Pradhan Mantri Jan Aushadhi Kendras will also be set up to provide medicines, including those for critical illnesses, at discounts of up to 80%.
Criticism of Previous Government
Stating that the government is preparing a roadmap for the state's healthcare sector, the Chief Minister said, "The earlier government neither cooperated with the Centre nor allowed people to avail benefits that other states receive. As a result, crores of people in Bengal were deprived. There was no communication or exchange of letters among administrators, bureaucrats, doctors, or those responsible for the health sector. A severe negativity was at play, the adverse effects of which are visible everywhere."
Medical Colleges and AIIMS
Adhikari said the government will take steps to ensure that every district in the state has a medical college. At present, four districts — Alipurduar, Kalimpong, West Burdwan, and South Dinajpur — do not have medical colleges. "Proposals to set up medical colleges in these four districts will be sent to the Centre soon, and steps will be taken to set up an AIIMS in North Bengal," he said.
Cervical Cancer Vaccination
In another significant announcement, the Chief Minister said the state will launch cervical cancer vaccination from May 30. Although the Union government introduced the programme nationally in February, it is yet to be implemented in Bengal. "The Centre is ready to provide more than seven lakh doses for girls aged between 14 and 15 years in the state," he said.
Child Mortality and Leprosy Concerns
Expressing concern over Bengal's child mortality figures, the Chief Minister said, "Due to inadequate monitoring by the previous government, the mortality rate for newborns to under-five is significantly high, especially in districts like Kolkata, Murshidabad, East Burdwan, Birbhum, and Malda." He also added that Bengal's standing in the National Leprosy Eradication Program is not high, as it has seven districts — Birbhum, Bankura, Jhargram, Kolkata, West Burdwan, Purulia, and North Dinajpur — with rates much higher than the national average.
Recruitment and Transparency
The Chief Minister also criticised the low manpower in Bengal's health sector. "We aim to bring transparency to the recruitment policy within the next three months. Even in projects with central funding or those with a central share, recruitment has only been 53% against sanctioned posts till now," he added.
