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Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari reportedly said the matter would be treated as an instance of institutional crime and investigated accordingly.
The alleged irregularities have raised concerns about potential misuse of public funds. (AI generated image)
Serious questions have emerged over the implementation of West Bengal’s Swasthya Sathi health insurance scheme, with state government sources claiming that the whereabouts of an estimated 30–40 lakh listed beneficiaries could not be established during verification.
According to sources at Nabanna, the discrepancies came to light during door-to-door visits undertaken in connection with the issuance of Ayushman Bharat cards or cards under the state’s health insurance scheme.
The alleged irregularities have raised concerns about potential misuse of public funds. Estimates circulating in connection with the allegations suggest that the financial implications could range between Rs 20,000 crore and Rs 25,000 crore. However, the amount of any established financial loss has not been independently verified.
Dr Kalyan Ashish Alleges Possible Fraud Involving Nursing Homes
Dr Kalyan Ashish, identified as a member of the Medical Council, told News18 that the alleged irregularities could point to a large-scale scam. He described a purported mechanism through which some healthcare facilities may have misused Swasthya Sathi cards to claim government reimbursements.
According to Dr Ashish, in a hypothetical example, a patient admitted to a hospital for surgery might be asked to produce additional Swasthya Sathi cards. The nursing home could allegedly retain those cards and use them to submit claims for government payments beyond the treatment provided to the actual patient.
He further alleged that the proceeds from such claims could have been channelled to politicians and individuals supplying fake cards.
These are allegations made by Dr Ashish. The purported mechanism, the involvement of healthcare facilities or political figures, and the alleged diversion of funds would require documentary evidence and confirmation from the investigating authorities.
Government Investigation Underway
The state government has indicated that the alleged irregularities will be investigated. Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari reportedly said the matter would be treated as an instance of institutional crime and investigated accordingly.
Health Minister Sharadwath Sajid described the reported irregularities as potentially only the tip of the iceberg, alleging that the scale of the suspected fraud could exceed Rs 25,000 crore.
The minister also alleged that the irregularities could extend across different levels of the scheme, from beneficiary identification to hospital claims. The allegations have not, however, been independently established.
Quick Answers
Ask News18Discrepancies regarding an estimated 30 to 40 lakh listed beneficiaries came to light during door-to-door verification visits conducted for issuing Ayushman Bharat cards or state health insurance cards. State government sources at Nabanna reported that the whereabouts of these listed individuals could not be established.
Ask News18About the Author
Kamalika Sengupta is the Editor (East) at CNN-News18 / News18.com, focusing on politics, defence, and women’s issues. She is a seasoned multimedia journalist with over 20 years of experience reporting…Read More
October 30, 2026, 12:33 IST
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