The state government will take action against protesting doctors who availed ‘Swasthya Sathi’ money, during the RG Kar protest, the chief minister said during the Question Hour session in the Assembly. “At that time (during the RG Kar protests), there was a surge in the expenditure under the Swasthya Sathi scheme. We are conducting an enquiry. The culprits will be punished,” Banerjee said.
Swasthya Sathi scheme is a health insurance programme of the state government for secondary and tertiary care up to Rs 5 lakh per annum per family. Reportedly, a survey has revealed that during the junior doctors’ protests over the RG Kar rape and murder, there was a significant surge in the state’s spending on patient treatment under the Swasthya Sathi scheme in private hospitals.
During the Assembly session on Thursday, TMC MLA Samir Jana asked whether the state government spent more money into the ‘Swasthya Sathi’ scheme during the RG Kar protest, to which the Chief Minister, who also holds the state health portfolio, said, “We had spent lots of money during that time. We can’t say anything as the RG Kar issue is subjudice. That time many did treatment taking money from Swasthya Sathi. We investigated that. We are now double checking who were misusing the money. We will punish those who misused people’s money.”
Additionally, Minister of State of Health Chandrima Bhattacharya briefed the Assembly that the state government spent Rs 2,684 crore during 2023-24 financial year in the Swasthya Sathi scheme and that 21,27,249 families benfitted from the scheme. Bhattacharya underlined that the number of families who have received help from the scheme increased to 80,25,876 till October 31, and that the government spent Rs 10,719 crore.
Meanwhile, expressing concern over the online tablet fraud, in which funds were siphoned from government allocations meant for student tablets the CM said that investigation is on and police are searching for the main accused in the case.
“We have already arrested several persons who did this. Police are now searching for the kingpin of this scam. No one will be spared. We will take strong action against these culprits,” the CM said. — With PTI