Ayushman Bharat cover for 6 crore Swasthya Sathi beneficiaries in Bengal from July
Synopsis
West Bengal's long exclusion from Ayushman Bharat is ending. Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari has announced that all 6 crore Swasthya Sathi members will be automatically enrolled under the central health scheme from July — a sweeping policy reversal that also unlocks ₹976 crore in central funding and sets the stage for new medical colleges and an AIIMS unit in north Bengal.
Key Takeaways
Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari announced on 23 May that 6 crore Swasthya Sathi beneficiaries will be enrolled under Ayushman Bharat from July 2025 .
West Bengal residents working outside the state will also be covered under the central scheme.
The Union Government has sanctioned ₹2,103 crore under the National Health Mission ; ₹500 crore was released on Saturday.
Central sanction for Ayushman Bharat specifically stands at ₹976 crore for West Bengal.
Four districts in West Bengal lack a medical college; land proposals to be sent to the Centre shortly, with an AIIMS unit proposed for north Bengal .
Over 7 lakh cervical cancer vaccines to be administered to girls aged 14–15 , with the drive launching on 30 May .
West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Saturday, 23 May announced that all 6 crore beneficiaries currently enrolled under the state's Swasthya Sathi health insurance scheme will be automatically linked to the Centre's Ayushman Bharat scheme starting July 2025. The move marks a significant policy shift, ending West Bengal's years-long exclusion from the flagship central health programme.
Key Developments
Speaking to reporters in Kolkata, Chief Minister Adhikari confirmed that enrolled Swasthya Sathi members will receive their Ayushman Bharat cards once the transition takes effect in July. He also noted that West Bengal residents currently working outside the state will be included under the central scheme's coverage — a provision that had previously been unavailable to them.
'Currently, six crores of people in West Bengal are enrolled for the Swasthya Sathi scheme in West Bengal. They all will be linked to the Ayushman Bharat scheme from July,' Adhikari said.
Why West Bengal Was Left Out Until Now
The Swasthya Sathi scheme was introduced by the previous Mamata Banerjee-led government as the state's own health insurance framework. To protect its primacy, the earlier administration declined to implement Ayushman Bharat — a decision that left West Bengal as one of the few states not covered under the central programme. With the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led government now in power in the state, aligning with the central scheme has become a stated policy priority.
Central Funding and Health Infrastructure
Adhikari disclosed that the Union Government has sanctioned a total of ₹2,103 crore for West Bengal under the National Health Mission, of which the state received ₹500 crore on Saturday. The total central sanction specifically for the Ayushman Bharat scheme stands at ₹976 crore, according to the Chief Minister.
On the infrastructure front, Adhikari acknowledged that four districts in West Bengal currently have no medical college. He said land proposals for setting up medical colleges in those districts will be submitted to the Union Government shortly. Additionally, a proposal for an All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) unit in north Bengal is to be finalised following consultations with elected representatives from the region.
Cervical Cancer Vaccination Drive
The Chief Minister also announced that over 7 lakh cervical cancer vaccines will be administered in West Bengal, targeting girls between the ages of 14 and 15. The programme is set to be officially launched in the state on 30 May.
What Comes Next
With the July rollout approaching, state health officials are expected to begin the technical integration of Swasthya Sathi beneficiary data with the Ayushman Bharat platform. The success of the transition will depend on the speed of card issuance and whether existing Swasthya Sathi entitlements are preserved or superseded under the central framework — details the government is yet to fully spell out.
Point of View
Not a policy one — the Mamata Banerjee government prioritised Swasthya Sathi as a state identity marker even as millions of migrant workers from Bengal remained uncovered while living in other states. The BJP government's reversal is as much a political signal as a health policy move. The real question is whether the transition will be seamless for beneficiaries or whether gaps in card issuance, benefit parity, and hospital network empanelment will leave the 6 crore enrollees worse off during the switchover. Announcements of AIIMS units and new medical colleges have a long history of stalling between proposal and construction in India — the four districts without a medical college deserve a timeline, not just a promise.
NationPress
10 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Ayushman Bharat scheme and how does it differ from Swasthya Sathi?
Ayushman Bharat is the Union Government's flagship health insurance scheme providing cashless hospitalisation coverage, while Swasthya Sathi is West Bengal's own state-run health insurance programme introduced under the Mamata Banerjee government. West Bengal had declined to implement Ayushman Bharat to preserve Swasthya Sathi's primacy, but the BJP-led state government is now aligning with the central scheme from July 2025.
When will West Bengal's Swasthya Sathi beneficiaries get Ayushman Bharat cards?
According to Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, Swasthya Sathi beneficiaries will be automatically linked to Ayushman Bharat from July 2025 and will receive their Ayushman Bharat cards once the transition takes effect.
How much central funding has West Bengal received for Ayushman Bharat and health missions?
The Union Government has sanctioned ₹2,103 crore for West Bengal under the National Health Mission, of which ₹500 crore was released on 23 May. The specific central sanction for the Ayushman Bharat scheme stands at ₹976 crore.
Will West Bengal migrants working in other states be covered under Ayushman Bharat?
Yes. Chief Minister Adhikari confirmed that West Bengal citizens currently living and working outside the state will also be included under the Ayushman Bharat scheme — a benefit that was unavailable to them under the state-only Swasthya Sathi framework.
What other health announcements did CM Adhikari make on 23 May?
Adhikari announced land proposals for medical colleges in four districts that currently have none, a proposed AIIMS unit for north Bengal subject to consultations with local representatives, and a cervical cancer vaccination drive for over 7 lakh girls aged 14–15, set to launch officially on 30 May.
