Swasthya Sathi will now include Bengal’s entire population: Mamata

• Every family, every citizen irrespective of age group will be included in this scheme
• This is a basic health cover for secondary and tertiary care up to Rs 5 lakh per annum per family
• The scheme is completely funded by the state government
• To cover the entire population of the state, each and every family will be given one smart card to avail the benefits under this scheme, where they will get cashless treatment
• All state-run and private hospitals are going to come under the Swasthya Sathi
• The card will be issued to the female guardians of families
• The enrollment procedure will start once the state government representatives start visiting every household following the Duarey Duarey Pashchimbongo Sarkar initiative, ie West Bengal Government at every doorstep
• The annual expense which the state is going to bear for this scheme will be approximately Rs 2,000 crore. Currently, this is Rs 925 crore
• Those who are not enrolled under any other health scheme will be eligible to come under the Swasthya Sathi scheme

According to the ruling Trinamool Congress Member of Parliament Derek O’ Brien’s social media post:

• So far, 1,590 hospitals in the state have been empanelled in the scheme
• Some 1.5 crore families will be covered under the scheme, that will include approximately 7.5 crore people
• The card will be issued in the name of the women of the family. The parents of women who are married into another family will also be brought under this scheme
• Under the Union government’s Ayushman Bharat health scheme, though the coverage is the same as Swasthya Sathi (Rs five lakh per year per family), the state has to bear 40 per cent of the cost as the state component. The Union government pays only 60 per cent for Ayushman Bharat

Not in favour

There are voices though, that are not completely in favour of such health insurance schemes implemented either by the Union or state government, though they support universal healthcare.

Siddartha Gupta, associated with Shramajibi Swasthya Udyog, a non-profit, said: “When the state government implements a scheme that involves such a huge financial amount, it will definitely be tax payers’ money that will go into the pockets of private insurance companies. This scheme will not include the OPD treatment, on which a huge number of patients are dependent.”

He added: “There are chances that by upholding this kind of scheme, the government will stop building new health care facilities like health centres, government hospitals, etc. Private hospitals will largely benefit from this scheme and it will be easier for the government to evade responsibilities in providing health services. The only solution that can benefit all citizens of the state is direct free health care delivery for all.”

Academician and ex-chairperson of West Bengal State Women’s Commission Malini Bhattacharya said publicly announcing about a scheme would not help if proper infrastructure was not at place.

“Be it Ayushman Bharat or Swasthya Sathi, these are targeted schemes, which means the expenses will go from the existing general health care system. Unfortunately, in such targeted schemes, those who need the services most, are often excluded. Instead, if the general health care system is improved, then almost everybody will enjoy the benefit of government services equally,” she said.

If the scheme was indeed working well, then those most in need, especially pregnant women would have got more support during the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.

A list of hospitals was needed from the health department was needed in a situation where patients suffering from diseases other than COVID-19 could go for treatment, she added.

The West Bengal government has not implemented Ayushman Bharat in the state. If it was not completely funded by the Centre, it was of no use, the government has said.

The public health care system undoubtedly needs to improve because people mostly fail to avail expensive private healthcare services. The role of Centre and state governments remain crucial here.

Take the example of the Delhi government. Since its inception, the Aam Admi Party-led government has tried to create a self-sufficient, successful, state-run healthcare system that can be accessible to all the citizens of Delhi.

The Delhi government’s most important step was setting up Mohalla clinics and polyclinics across the state to provide free primary healthcare to all.

Though there are controversies and criticism about some of the steps, overall, the three-tier healthcare system (Mohalla clinics-polyclinics-hospitals) of the government is popular among the residents.

The Kerala government is another regime that has its own comprehensive and affordable health insurance scheme — Karuna Health Suraksha Scheme — and many other state-run healthcare policies for all the citizens of Kerala.

Now, there is Karuna Arogya Suraksha Padhathi that aims to provide health cover of five lakh per family per year. 

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