West Bengal CM Highlights Healthcare Coverage Under Integrated CM Scheme & Ayushman Bharat

The dual-scheme initiative will initially cover 1,240 private hospitals and 627 government medical facilities within the state.

The government of West Bengal has implemented the state’s Mukhyamantri Swasthya Bima Yojana (MMSBY) alongside the central government’s flagship Ayushman Bharat, aimed at expanding health insurance access for eligible residents across the state and beyond.

The schemes were launched in the presence of West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, state Health Minister Sharadwat Mukherjee, and Union Minister of State for Health Anupriya Patel.

Speaking at the launch event, West Bengal CM Suvendu Adhikari announced that the dual-scheme initiative will initially cover 1,240 private hospitals and 627 government medical facilities within the state.

The beneficiaries can now avail healthcare services under these schemes at approximately 38,600 empanelled hospitals across the country.

CM stated that nearly 1.43 crore families would benefit from the central scheme, while another 80 lakh families would be covered under the state programme.

The integrated arrangement will provide beneficiaries with access to cashless treatment for around 1,950 treatment packages, up from more than 1,700 procedures under the state's earlier health insurance programme.

The expanded package list includes procedures such as knee and hip replacement.

Adhikari further highlighted that the schemes are expected to provide access to around 38,600 hospitals nationwide.

“Under Swasthya Sathi, many diseases were not covered. Under Ayushman Bharat and the Chief Minister Health Insurance Scheme, patients will be able to undergo knee and hip replacement completely free of cost,” Adhikari said at the launch.

Additionally, the state scheme is also intended to extend coverage to groups that do not qualify for Ayushman Bharat.

The CM underlined that "These two schemes will be implemented together. We have identified those who will be eligible for Ayushman Bharat. Around 40 lakh senior citizens will be brought under the CM's health scheme. There are no eligibility criteria for them.

"Around 80 lakh families do not qualify for Ayushman Bharat. They will get benefits of up to INR 5 lakh and treatment at all hospitals empanelled under Ayushman Bharat. All the benefits will be the same,” he added.

Further, the state health minister, Sharadwat Mukherjee, explained that the combined scheme will offer cashless health coverage of up to INR 5 lakh.

To fund this initiative, the Central government has allocated approximately INR 1,000 crore for implementing the scheme, of which 60 per cent will be borne by the Centre and the remaining 40 per cent by the West Bengal government.

Furthermore, the chief minister also announced plans to establish Amrit Pharmacies at government hospitals. Beneficiaries will have access to 100 ‘Amrit’ pharmacies and 480 Pradhan Mantri Jan Aushadhi centres at government hospitals in the state. An agreement was signed with Hindustan Life Care Limited for the initiative.

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