Ayushman Bharat, CM Health Scheme Rolled Out In West Bengal: Beneficiaries Can Avail Services At 1,867 Hospitals

The West Bengal government has officially integrated the Ayushman Bharat initiative with its Mukhyamantri Swasthya Bima Yojana. Speaking at the ‘Ayushman Diwas’ event on August 16, 2026, the Chief Minister announced that the dual-scheme initiative will initially cover 1,240 private hospitals and 627 government medical facilities within the state. The beneficiaries can now avail healthcare services under these schemes at approximately 38,600 empanelled hospitals across the country.

The integration aims to provide a safety net for those who previously lacked access to specialised care. Adhikari emphasised that while the state government’s earlier healthcare scheme was restricted to West Bengal, the new framework will allow residents to receive treatment anywhere in India.

The Health Minister of the state, Sharadwat Mukherjee, clarified that the combined scheme will offer cashless health coverage of up to Rs 5 lakh. To fund this initiative, the Central government has allocated approximately Rs 1,000 crore for implementing the scheme, of which 60 per cent will be borne by the Centre and the remaining 40 per cent by the West Bengal government.  

The CM said that those who do not qualify for the Ayushman Bharat scheme will automatically be covered under the Mukhyamantri Swasthya Bima Yojana. This expansion is expected to bring around 8 million families under the healthcare coverage. The CM further announced that around 4 million senior citizens would be included under the scheme without any specific eligibility criteria and added that beneficiaries can seek treatment under 1,950 procedures.

In addition to this, the initiative will also provide a robust pharmaceutical network and specialised care. Beneficiaries will have access to 100 ‘Amrit’ pharmacies and 480 Pradhan Mantri Jan Aushadhi centres at government hospitals in the state.

He informed that the state government has also launched an eye care program, and he recently got a check-up done for himself under this.  

The CM highlighted that the private healthcare sector has reported facing some hurdles. Institutions, including those run by the Ramakrishna Mission, have expressed concerns regarding reimbursement rates. They noted a significant difference in the treatment costs in cities like Mumbai and Chennai, or at institutions like CMC Vellore. The CM assured that the government will look into it and ensure that quality treatment remains available for the beneficiaries.

Beneficiaries were given health cards at the event. The CM appealed to both the government and private stakeholders to collaborate and strengthen the healthcare services. The integration of these schemes aims to ensure universal and quality healthcare accessible to all citizens, irrespective of their economic status.