Kolkata, May 23 (IANS) Those who are currently enjoying the “Swasthya Sathi” scheme in West Bengal now will automatically be enrolled for the benefits under the “Ayushman Bharat” scheme from July this year, Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari announced on Saturday.

While “Ayushman Bharat” is the central health insurance scheme, “Swasthya Sathi” is the state’s own health insurance scheme introduced by the previous Mamata Banerjee-led regime. To keep the “Swasthya Sathi” scheme effective in West Bengal, the previous regime did not allow implementation of “Ayushman Bharat” in the state.

However, with the Bharatiya Janata Party-ruled state government taking charge, it was decided that “Ayushman Bharat” would be implemented in West Bengal like other BJP-ruled states.

“Currently, six crores of people in West Bengal are enrolled for the ‘Swasthya Sathi’ scheme in West Bengal. They all will be linked to the “Ayushman Bharat” scheme from July,” the Chief Minister told media persons on Saturday. He said that these beneficiaries will get the “Ayushman Bharat” cards only then.

He also said that citizens of West Bengal who are currently out of the state to earn their livelihoods will also be included under the “Ayushman Bharat” scheme.

Speaking on the occasion, Adhikari said that while there had been a total sanction of Rs 2,103 crore for West Bengal under the National Health Mission of the Union, the state had already received Rs 500 crore on Saturday.

“The total central sanction for the ‘Ayushman Bharat’ scheme is Rs 976 crore,” the Chief Minister said.

According to him, four districts in West Bengal do not have a single medical college now. “The proposed land for the four districts to set up medical colleges in those districts will be sent to the Union Government shortly. At the same time, a proposal for setting up a unit of All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in north Bengal will be finalised on the basis of discussions with the elected public representatives there,” CM Adhikari said.

He also said that over 7 lakhs of cervical cancer antidotes will be provided in West Bengal. “These will be given to the girls between the ages of 14 and 15. This will be officially launched in West Bengal from May 30,” the Chief Minister said.

–IANS

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