Mamata government to private hospitals: Join Swasthya Sathi or lose license

The West Bengal Health department gave a strong message to the private hospitals about the ‘Swasthya Sathi’ health cards. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said that private hospitals may face cancellation of license if they refuse to empanel themselves under Swasthya Sathi or deny treatment to a patient having a Swasthya Sathi card.
 

The state health department has issued a notification directing that from now on, all hospitals or nursing homes that return patients to healthcare projects will have their licenses revoked.
 

The health department has made it clear that all public and private hospitals with 10 beds or more in West Bengal must be included in the healthcare project.

The health department made it clear that the hospitals must have no objection in providing services to the patient or his family who has a health card otherwise the license of the accused hospital or nursing home may be revoked.
 

It is to be noted that there are allegations that several hospitals-nursing homes in different parts of the state are returning the patients of the healthcare project without providing medical services.
 

As per the West Bengal Clinical Establishment Act, all registered clinical establishments have to take part in the state programme. "The clinical establishments shall actively participate in the implementation of all National and State Health programmes," maintained the Health department.

Under the Swasthya Sathi scheme, members get free treatment worth Rs 5 lakh. They may go to big hospitals like AIIMS or Christian Medical College, Vellore to avail this facility.