West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on May 23 said the state has secured Central approval of more than ₹3,000 crore this financial year to strengthen the public healthcare system, with ₹500 crore already released.
Addressing a virtual press conference from Nabanna, Adhikari said the Union Health Ministry has sanctioned ₹2,103 crore under the National Health Mission (NHM) for 2026-27, of which around one-fourth has already been transferred to the state.
He also stated that the Centre has approved its share of ₹976 crore for the implementation of the Ayushman Bharat scheme in West Bengal during the current fiscal year.
“In total, the state has received sanctions exceeding ₹3,000 crore, while ₹500 crore has already been disbursed,” the chief minister said after a virtual meeting with Union Health Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda.
Adhikari announced that distribution of Ayushman Bharat cards is expected to begin in July, with enrolment work already underway. In the initial phase, nearly six crore beneficiaries holding Swasthya Sathi cards issued by the previous Trinamool Congress government will be brought under the Ayushman Bharat scheme.
He added that fresh applicants who were not previously covered under Swasthya Sathi would also get an opportunity to enrol.
The state government is also preparing to sign an agreement with the Centre in Delhi during the first week of June to join the Ayushman Arogya Mandir network. According to Adhikari, this move aims to extend healthcare benefits to more than one crore migrant residents from Bengal living outside the state for work or education.
Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) provides annual health insurance coverage of ₹5 lakh per family for secondary and tertiary hospital care.
The chief minister further said the state health department will accelerate recruitment of doctors, nurses and other healthcare personnel in government-run facilities. He claimed that recruitment under the previous administration stood at only 53 per cent compared to the national average of 98 per cent, and assured that vacant posts would be filled within the next three months through a transparent process.
Adhikari also criticised the earlier Mamata Banerjee-led government, alleging that poor coordination with the Centre had deprived Bengal residents of the benefits of several Central healthcare schemes.