Mamata Banerjee’s Swasthya Sathi Scheme faces uncertainty as Kolkata Hospitals restrict admissions

Patients relying on Swasthya Sathi, West Bengal’s state-run health insurance programme introduced under the outgoing Mamata Banerjee government, are facing difficulties getting admitted to several private hospitals in Kolkata amid uncertainty over the scheme’s future under the incoming BJP administration, reported TOI.

Private hospitals have long complained about low package rates under Swasthya Sathihe change in government, many hospitals are waiting for clarity on whether Swasthya Sathi will continue or be replaced by the Centre’s Ayushman Bharat programme.

Several private healthcare facilities have reportedly begun informally restricting or halting admissions under the scheme.


A prominent hospital chain along EM Bypass has stopped taking Swasthya Sathi patients across all its units, despite previously handling more than 250 such cases every month.

"We are waiting for a directive from the govt, which may not come anytime soon," the head of the EM Bypass hospital chain told the news oulet.

Meanwhile, another senior official at a different private hospital said, "We have suspended Swasthya Sathi admissions. But it's not official. It was never a profitable scheme for us, and we expect a new scheme to replace it soon."

According to the report, another multispeciality hospital in south Kolkata, which earlier admitted nearly 30 beneficiaries daily, particularly for cardiac procedures, is now limiting admissions to emergency cases.

Hospital administrators said they were awaiting directions from the new government. One senior official from a private hospital admitted that admissions under the scheme had been suspended unofficially, citing low reimbursement rates and expectations of a policy change under the new regime.

Hospitals cite financial concerns

Even hospitals that continue to accept Swasthya Sathi patients have begun tightening eligibility. Woodlands Hospital is currently limiting admissions largely to cardiac and certain cancer patients.

Hospital CEO Rupak Barua, who also heads the Association of Hospitals of Eastern India, said many private hospitals have struggled with the scheme’s pricing structure, forcing them to restrict services covered under it.

The hospital association is expected to seek clarity from the health department once the new government formally assumes office.

On the other hand, Ruby General Hospital said it has continued accepting Swasthya Sathi patients and is still receiving approvals from the insurance provider.

According to hospital officials, more than 200 patients avail treatment under the scheme there every month, though they acknowledged uncertainty about what lies ahead.

"We treat more than 200 Swasthya Sathi patients in a month and received admission clearances from the insurance company till yesterday. The future, however, remains unclear," Subhashis Datta, chief general manager (operations) at Ruby, told TOI.

Private hospitals have long complained about low package rates under Swasthya Sathi, which they say often fail to cover treatment costs, leading to periodic disputes over admissions and reimbursements.