West Bengal Set to Implement National Health Mission; Centre Sanctions Rs 2,103 Crore for Scheme

PTI, May 30, 2026, Kolkata: Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Saturday said the state is set to implement the National Health Mission (NHM), and the Centre has sanctioned Rs 2,103 crore for the scheme.

Addressing a programme of the health department in Kolkata, Adhikari also said that over 1.36 crore families will be covered under the Ayushman Bharat scheme in Bengal.

"This will ensure that a large section of the population in the state receives quality healthcare support," he said.

"West Bengal will implement the National Health Mission. The Centre has sanctioned Rs 2,103 crore for the scheme, out of which we have already received Rs 527 crore. These funds will help improve healthcare delivery across the state," Adhikari said.

The Chief Minister, who also holds the health portfolio, said beneficiaries under the Ayushman Bharat scheme would receive health insurance coverage of up to Rs 5 lakh at designated government hospitals.

Migrant workers employed in other parts of India would also be able to avail benefits of the scheme, he said.

"State government hospitals will now be known as 'Ayushman Mandirs'. If a patient spends Rs 1,000 a month on medicines, the same medicines will be available in these hospitals for Rs 100," Adhikari said.

The Chief Minister also said that 467 Pradhan Mantri Janaushadhi Kendras would be operational in the state, and medicines for serious ailments, including cancer, would soon be made available at a 30 per cent subsidy.

He also announced the setting up of medical colleges in Alipurduar, Kalimpong, Dakshin Dinajpur and Paschim Bardhaman districts.

"No district should be deprived of the benefits of a medical college. That is why the government has taken this initiative," he said.

Adhikari also said control rooms are being set up to oversee and monitor district hospitals across the state.

Asserting that the health department would adopt a "zero-tolerance" policy against alleged middlemen in hospitals and unnecessary referrals of patients, he said a central control room is being established at 'Swasthya Bhavan' for round-the-clock monitoring of district hospitals and medical colleges.

"We will keep a watch on whether any middlemen network is active in hospitals, doctors are present, patients are occupying beds, and even if stray dogs and cats are roaming on the premises," Adhikari said.

The control room would also monitor cleanliness, service delivery and administrative functioning in government healthcare facilities.

The Chief Minister said action has already been initiated against a doctor of the Kolkata Medical College over the referral of a critically ill patient.

Adhikari also announced a policy decision concerning private hospitals that had received government land at a nominal rate of Re 1.

Such hospitals would be required to reserve up to 15 per cent of beds for economically weaker patients referred from government healthcare facilities.

The Chief Minister on Saturday also said his government would work closely with the Centre to ensure that the state receives all the benefits of a double-engine government like several other BJP-ruled states.

Addressing the media after the launch of the 'Swachha App' in the state in the presence of Union Minister for Power and Housing and Urban Affairs Manohar Lal, Adhikari said there was significant scope for rebuilding the state in the power and urban development sectors.

The app was launched by Lal in the presence of Adhikari and state urban development minister Agnimitra Paul.

The app is designed to improve civic amenities through technology and the participation of citizens.

"I want to assure the people of West Bengal that we will work with every ministry of the Union government to ensure that all the benefits of a double-engine government, which 20 other states are receiving, are extended to our state as well," he said.

Adhikari said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has repeatedly lamented that West Bengal has not developed at the pace expected despite being a leader in sectors such as industry and education after Independence.

He also said that he had a detailed discussion with Union Minister Manohar Lal regarding what the Centre and the state government can jointly do for urban and power sector development in West Bengal.

The CM said 10 urban local bodies would initially benefit from the cleanliness mission under the 'Swachha App' initiative.

These are the municipal corporations of Asansol and Durgapur, and the municipalities of Basirhat, Pujali, Tufanganj, Contai, Krishnanagar, Nalhati, Baidyabati and Madhyamgram.