Newz Desk, Durgapur: Private hospitals across West Bengal have welcomed the state government’s proposed Mukhyamantri Swasthya Bima Yojana (MSBY), saying the scheme has the potential to bridge the healthcare coverage gap for people who are not eligible under the Centre’s Ayushman Bharat programme.
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee recently announced that beneficiaries excluded from Ayushman Bharat would be covered under the new state-backed health insurance scheme, offering medical coverage of up to Rs 5 lakh. Hospital administrators believe the initiative could ensure wider access to affordable healthcare, particularly for urban middle-income families who often fall outside the eligibility criteria of central welfare schemes.
Healthcare industry leaders said the proposed scheme would complement Ayushman Bharat rather than compete with it. They suggested that existing beneficiaries of the state’s Swasthya Sathi programme could be brought under the Mukhyamantri Swasthya Bima Yojana, while newly eligible beneficiaries could be enrolled under Ayushman Bharat.
Rupak Barua, President of the Association of Hospitals of Eastern India (AHEI), said such an arrangement would significantly expand healthcare access across the state. He noted that while Ayushman Bharat primarily targets economically weaker sections, a large number of residents, particularly in cities like Kolkata, remain outside its coverage despite requiring financial protection for medical treatment.
Prashant Sharma, Managing Director of Charnock Hospital and President of the Healthcare Committee of the Indian Chamber of Commerce, described the proposed scheme as an important platform for achieving universal healthcare coverage in the state. According to him, those excluded from Ayushman Bharat would now have access to quality healthcare through the new insurance programme.
Hospital administrators also emphasised the need for detailed operational guidelines before the scheme is implemented. They called for adequate treatment package rates, a smooth claims settlement process and a robust administrative framework to ensure hospitals can continue delivering quality care without delays.
Sajal Dutta, Chairman and Managing Director of Desun Hospital, said wider insurance coverage encourages patients to seek timely treatment, resulting in better health outcomes. He added that successful implementation would depend on transparent operational procedures and efficient reimbursement mechanisms.
According to hospital officials, the proposed scheme is expected to replace or integrate the existing Swasthya Sathi programme, which currently covers more than 2.4 crore beneficiaries across West Bengal. The transition, they noted, would require significant backend preparation and coordination between hospitals and government agencies.
Launched on December 30, 2016, Swasthya Sathi is a state-funded cashless health insurance scheme that provides coverage of up to Rs 5 lakh per family per year, with the entire premium borne by the West Bengal government. The scheme has no cap on family size and covers all pre-existing diseases from the first day of enrolment.
Healthcare experts believe the Mukhyamantri Swasthya Bima Yojana, if implemented effectively alongside Ayushman Bharat, could substantially strengthen West Bengal’s healthcare ecosystem by ensuring that no eligible resident is left without financial protection during medical emergencies.
