Announced in Cabinet No – 2625 dated 17th February 2016, and Finance Department notification no – 1104-F (P) dated 25th February 2016, the West Bengal Government’s most talked about scheme is Swasthya Sathi. It provides Basic health cover for secondary and tertiary care up to Rs. 5 lakh per annum per family.
This free health insurance through this digital card “Swasthya Sathi Card” covers up to 5 Lakh Rupees per family for not only the poor and marginal households but every citizen of India who resident of West Bengal. Above all, the entire premium is borne by the State Government, and no contribution from the beneficiary is required to be made. All pre-existing diseases are covered.
However, despite such a plausible scheme the West Bengal Government has received a lot of criticism because hospitals and clinics have denied providing services under the Swasthya Sathi card stating reasons that the state government denies or delays payments of such treatments to the hospitals/clinics on time. The government has responded to such criticism by declaring that anybody who denies such services will be blacklisted and their license could be suspended.
BackGround
Paresh Barman age 25 years, went to work on 21/10/2022 and suffered an accident as he fell from the 1st Floor during the course of employment. His family immediately took him to Siliguri District Hospital where they referred him to North Bengal Medical College & Hospital. Thereafter they were suggested to admit the patient to a private Nursing Home because their hospital lacked the proper infrastructure required for the patient’s treatment.
Deep Saha, A young lawyer practicing in Siliguri, West Bengal, a known person to the patient family was informed about the circumstances.
The patient was then admitted to North Bengal Neuro Centre Pvt. Ltd ( a private clinic) on 22/10/2022. Questions were put before the family if they were enrolled in the Swasthya Sathi Scheme and to which they responded positively. The financially wrecked patient family was then asked to pay Rs. 30,000/- as advance payment at the time of the admission itself. On the next day, the patient family was assured that the process under Swasthya Sathi Scheme has already been started, but nevertheless, the Swasthya Sathi Card details were not taken from the patient family. Meanwhile, the Nursing Home through a variety of tests and procedures invoiced a bill of Rs. 67,000/-.
On 23/10/2022 i.e the next day, Deep Saha, being a literate hand to the family. noticed in a medicine requisition slip that the patient was intoxicated. He rushed to the authorities concerned to take up the matter as this was a clear lie. The patient namely Mr. Paresh was previously admitted to two hospitals before his admission to North Bengal Neuro Centre Pvt. Ltd. and in neither of the previous Hospitals’ test reports, it was mentioned that the patient was intoxicated. The Manager of the nursing home assured him that they will rectify their mistake immediately.
Passionate about using the law to make a difference in people’s lives. An Advocate by profession.
