West Bengal Became First State to Withdraw From NHPS- Details, Features

West Bengal Became First State to Withdraw From National Health Protection Scheme (NHPS)

The Indian state of West Bengal on 13th February 2018 became the first state to withdraw its name from Union Government’s National Health Protection Scheme (NHPS) that was announced in Union Budget 2018-19.

Chief Minister of West Bengal, Mamata Banerjee, pronounced that the state will not waste its hard-earned resources to contribute its share to the programme.

CM Mamata Banerjee informed that the Central government has drawn up an NHPS health plan in which 40 percent of the fund has to be allotted from the states but she questioned that why should the state spend on another programme when it already has its own.

The West Bengal government has already enrolled 50 lakh people under its own Swasthya Sathi Programme.

Swasthya Sathi Programme is a state-owned group health protection scheme, launched by the West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee on 30th December 2016.

Swasthya Sathi Programme provides basic health cover for secondary and tertiary care up to Rs 1.5 Lakh per annum through Insurance mode (PSU). Health cover for the Critical illness like Cancer, Neuro surgeries, cardiothoracic surgeries, liver diseases, blood disorders etc. up to Rs 5 Lakh through Assurance mode.

Under Swasthya Sathi Programme NIC act as insurance partner in 9 District and UIIC in 11 Districts. Premium per family ranges from Rs 3549 In Kolkata to Rs 1729 in Dakshin Dinajpur. It is a Paperless, Cashless, Smart Card based scheme.