About the Swasthya Sathi Scheme in West Bengal
The state of West Bengal provides comprehensive health protection to its entire population through its flagship universal health program, the Swasthya Sathi scheme. This powerful state-run initiative provides a robust safety net to every resident family, offering a cashless health cover of up to ₹5 lakh per family per year for secondary and tertiary medical care.
This detailed 2025 guide provides the official list of all empanelled public and private hospitals under the Swasthya Sathi scheme. Beneficiaries across all districts, including major cities like Kolkata, Howrah, Durgapur, Siliguri, and Darjeeling, can access high-quality treatment at premier institutions without any out-of-pocket expense. It's important to note that West Bengal implements its own health scheme and is not part of the central PMJAY program.
Swasthya Sathi: West Bengal's Universal Health Guarantee
The Swasthya Sathi scheme is a pioneering model for universal healthcare. Its key features are:
- Universal Coverage: Every resident of West Bengal who is not already covered by another government health scheme (like those for central/state employees) is eligible.
- Female-Centric Approach: The Swasthya Sathi smart card is issued in the name of the senior-most female member of the family, empowering women in healthcare decisions. All other family members are covered under this card.
- Substantial Financial Protection: The scheme provides a basic cashless cover of ₹1.5 lakh and a critical care cover for major illnesses up to ₹5 lakh per family, per year.
How to Find a Network Hospital in West Bengal
West Bengal has a massive network of over 2,000 empanelled hospitals, including top private facilities and all government hospitals. To find a facility near you:
- Visit the official Swasthya Sathi website at swasthyasathi.gov.in.
- Navigate to the 'Hospital Information' section to find the active hospital list.
- You can filter by 'District' (e.g., Kolkata, North 24 Parganas) to see all approved hospitals in your area.
At each network hospital, a dedicated "Swasthya Sathi Mitra" helpdesk is available to assist you with the cashless admission process.
Eligibility Criteria and Core Benefits
Who is Eligible for Swasthya Sathi?
Eligibility for the Swasthya Sathi scheme is universal for residents of West Bengal:
- All residents of West Bengal are eligible to enroll.
- Families already covered by other government-sponsored health schemes (e.g., for central/state govt. employees, ESI) are not eligible.
Enrollment is done through special camps ("Duare Sarkar") organized by the government.
The Key Benefits of the Swasthya Sathi Scheme
- ₹5 Lakh Cashless Cover for All: Every enrolled family gets a high-value health cover of ₹5 lakh per year on a family floater basis.
- Universal Coverage for All Residents: The scheme provides a health safety net to every single family in the state not covered by other govt. schemes.
- Access to Top Private Hospitals: The scheme has empanelled a large number of renowned private hospitals and corporate hospital chains in West Bengal and other states.
- Pre-existing Diseases Covered: All pre-existing conditions are covered from day one of enrollment without any waiting period.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Is Ayushman Bharat (PMJAY) available in West Bengal?
No. West Bengal opted out of the central PMJAY scheme. Instead, the state runs its own universal health scheme called Swasthya Sathi, which covers all residents.
2. What is the Swasthya Sathi scheme?
Swasthya Sathi is the flagship universal health insurance scheme of the Government of West Bengal. It provides a cashless health cover of up to ₹5 lakh per family per year to all eligible residents of the state.
3. Who is eligible for a Swasthya Sathi card?
Every resident family of West Bengal is eligible, provided they are not covered under any other government-sponsored health scheme. There are no income criteria.
4. Why is the Swasthya Sathi card issued in a woman's name?
This is a unique, women-empowerment feature of the scheme. The smart card is issued in the name of the senior-most female member of the family, making her the official head of the household for the scheme's purposes. All dependent family members are covered under her card.
5. Do I need to pay any premium or fee for the Swasthya Sathi scheme?
No, the Swasthya Sathi scheme is entirely funded by the Government of West Bengal. There are no premiums or fees to be paid by the beneficiaries for enrollment or for availing cashless treatment.