Read Time: 03 minutes

The division bench of Chief Justice Prakash Srivastava and Justice Rajarshi Bharadwaj of the Calcutta High Court has summoned the Trinamool Congress led West Bengal government to explaining on affidavit how people are being treated under the state’s health scheme i.e. Swasthya Sathi.

The bench was hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) petition moved by Kunal Saha, a US-based doctor and chairman of the organization, People for Better Treatment, alleging malpractices and irregularities in the implementation of the scheme.

It was contended that many patients did not get any financial assistance despite applying for the scheme.

According to Saha, the number of consumers in the healthcare project is increasing every year, while the government is reducing the allocation for this project. He raised the question of how the service is being provided in case of increase in consumers and decrease in allocation.

Advocate General SN Mookherjee told the Court that the Swasthya Sathi is renewed every year and that the government was bearing the premium of the health scheme it had launched, in collaboration with a private insurance company.

Along with the affidavit the High Court has also sought details of grievances registered by cardholders and how they have been redressed a directed Saha to file an affidavit with details of all the cardholders who have been denied service.

Cause Title: