West Bengal Chief Minister Subhendu Adhikari on Saturday said that the National Health Mission (NHM) will be implemented in the state and the Center has sanctioned Rs 2103 crore for the scheme. Addressing a program of the Health Department in Kolkata, Shubhendu Adhikari said that more than 1.36 crore families in Bengal will be brought under the ambit of Ayushman Bharat scheme. He said, “This will ensure that a large population of the state gets the benefit of quality health services.” Let us tell you that Ayushman Bharat Yojana is a major health insurance scheme of the Government of India. Under this scheme, eligible families get free (cashless) treatment up to Rs 5 lakh every year in government and some private hospitals.
State government got Rs 527 crore out of Rs 2103 crore
Shubhendu Adhikari said that the Center has sanctioned Rs 2103 crore for NHM, out of which Rs 527 crore has already been received. These funds will help in improving health services across the state. The Chief Minister is also holding the charge of the Health Department. He said that under the Ayushman Bharat scheme, beneficiaries will get free health insurance cover up to Rs 5 lakh in designated government hospitals. He said that migrant workers working in other parts of India will also be able to avail the benefits of this scheme. Shubhendu said, “Government hospitals of the state will now be known as ‘Ayushman Mandir’. If a patient spends Rs 1000 a month on medicines, the same medicines will be available to him for Rs 100 in these hospitals.
467 Pradhan Mantri Janaushadhi Centers will be opened in the state
The Chief Minister said that 467 Pradhan Mantri Jan Aushadhi Centers will be operated in the state and medicines for serious diseases including cancer will soon be made available at 30 percent subsidy. The Chief Minister also announced setting up of medical colleges in Alipurduar, Kalimpong, South Dinajpur and West Bardhaman districts. He said, “No district should be deprived of the benefits of a medical college.” He said the health department would adopt a “zero tolerance” policy against alleged middlemen and unnecessary referral of patients to hospitals. Shubhendu said that a central control room is being set up in ‘Swasthya Bhawan’ for round-the-clock monitoring of district hospitals and medical colleges.
15% beds will have to be reserved for the poor in private hospitals
The control room will also monitor cleanliness, service delivery and administrative functioning in government health facilities. The Chief Minister said that action has already been initiated against a doctor of Kolkata Medical College for referring a seriously ill patient. Shubhendu also announced policy decisions related to private hospitals that had received land from the government at a nominal rate of Re 1. Such hospitals will have to reserve up to 15 percent of beds for economically weaker patients sent from government health centres. He said, “If there is more pressure on government hospitals and patients are sent to these private hospitals, then they will have to admit the patients. We have also decided that the treatment of such patients should be free.”
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