Bengal Govt mandates prominent display of ‘Swasthya Sathi’ info in private hospitals

To enhance transparency and ensure that patients are informed about their healthcare options, the West Bengal government is making it mandatory for private hospitals to display information about the 'Swasthya Sathi' scheme in prominent areas within their premises. This directive aims to ensure that patients are aware of the services they are entitled to under the state’s flagship health scheme, which provides free medical treatment to residents of Bengal.

Reports had surfaced that some private hospitals were not adequately informing patients about Swasthya Sathi benefits, resulting in cases where patients seeking treatment under the scheme were either misinformed or deterred from using it. Several patients ended up covering their medical expenses out-of-pocket due to alleged non-cooperation from hospital staff.

To address this, the state government has directed private hospitals to prominently display boards detailing the scheme’s benefits, with locations chosen to be easily visible to patients and their families. These boards are intended to inform patients about their rights under Swasthya Sathi, ensuring that eligible individuals can access these services without obstacles.

A senior health department official stated, “The boards must be placed in such a way that both patients and their families can see them. Hospitals must take responsibility to inform the public about government-provided services under this scheme.” The initiative underscores the government’s commitment to patient welfare and follows a significant increase in healthcare expenses under Swasthya Sathi.

The Swasthya Sathi scheme has become increasingly vital, especially after a junior doctors' strike saw many patients turn to private hospitals for care. With government facilities affected, a significant rise in private hospital admissions under Swasthya Sathi was recorded. In just over two months during the junior doctors' protest, 563 senior resident doctors working in private hospitals treated 73,905 cases under Swasthya Sathi, costing the state government approximately ₹54.39 crore. Overall, government expenditure on the scheme reached ₹430 crore in this period alone.