West Bengal Hospitals Prepare for Ayushman Bharat Transition Amid Rising Public Interest

Several private hospitals said they have been receiving enquiries from residents about Ayushman Bharat eligibility and enrolment, especially after indications from the new state government.

Hospitals across Kolkata have started preparing for the possible rollout or convergence of Ayushman Bharat with West Bengal’s Swasthya Sathi programme, as interest among patients and healthcare providers has increased in recent days.

Several private hospitals said they have been receiving enquiries from residents about Ayushman Bharat eligibility and enrolment, especially after indications from the state government about a potential transition framework.

The discussions have emerged after a recent meeting at Swasthya Bhavan, reportedly focused on integrating or aligning the state health insurance programme with the Centre’s Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY).

The move is being viewed as significant because West Bengal had stayed out of the Ayushman Bharat scheme for several years, relying instead on Swasthya Sathi, which was launched as a universal family health coverage programme by the state government.

Healthcare industry stakeholders believe that combining Ayushman Bharat with the broader reach of Swasthya Sathi could help create a more inclusive healthcare access model for patients in West Bengal.

“We have received numerous calls from patients since Saturday, enquiring about Ayushman Bharat and how to enrol for it. We are on the panel for the scheme and admit patients under Ayushman, though all of them are from neighbouring states. Now, we are getting queries from local patients, especially those above 70 years who are eligible under the scheme without other conditions. We expect an announcement soon,” said Subhashis Datta, Chief General Manager - Operations, Ruby General Hospital.

“A smooth transition from Swasthya Sathi to Ayushman will be essential for the continuity of medical facilities for the people of Bengal,” said Prashant Sharma, CEO of Charnock Hospital and Chairperson of the Indian Chamber of Commerce Healthcare Committee.

Desun Hospital Chairman and MD Sajal Dutta said the hospital already treats Ayushman Bharat beneficiaries from neighbouring states such as Bihar and Jharkhand and supports efforts aimed at improving healthcare access.

Meanwhile, BP Poddar Hospital said it continues to accept Swasthya Sathi cards in a limited capacity while awaiting further government guidelines on the proposed transition.

Healthcare providers have also highlighted the need for sustainable reimbursement structures if Ayushman Bharat is expanded further in the state.

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