Shringla raises shortage of CGHS facilities in Darjeeling Hills
The Statesman | 3 February 2026
Rajya Sabha MP Harsh Vardhan Shringla on Monday raised a long-pending public health concern during Zero Hour in Parliament, drawing the attention of the House and the Union government to the acute inadequacy of Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS) facilities in the Darjeeling hills and North Bengal.
Speaking in Parliament, Shringla pointed out that over two lakh central government employees, pensioners and their dependent family members reside across North Bengal and neighbouring Sikkim, a significant number of whom are senior citizens, widows, retired personnel and patients suffering from chronic and critical illnesses who depend entirely on CGHS for affordable and timely healthcare.
Despite this substantial beneficiary base, only one CGHS Wellness Centre is currently operational in Siliguri, making access to healthcare extremely difficult for residents of hill and remote areas, he said.
Shringla highlighted that there is no CGHS Wellness Centre in Darjeeling town, compelling beneficiaries from Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Kurseong, Mirik, Naxalbari and Bagdogra to travel 80 to 120 kilometres over difficult hilly terrain even for basic CGHS services. “This often results in denial or delay of essential medical care, particularly for elderly and seriously ill patients,” he stressed.
Placing specific and actionable demands before the House, Shringla called for the establishment of multiple CGHS Wellness Centres in Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Kurseong, Mirik, Bagdogra, Naxalbari and Sikkim to ensure last-mile access to primary healthcare. He also urged the immediate empanelment of additional private hospitals, nursing homes and diagnostic centres across both hill and plains regions.
Further, he demanded the creation of an Additional Director, CGHS office at Siliguri, to function as the administrative and medical hub for North Bengal and Sikkim, ensuring better coordination and faster grievance redressal.
Shringla also pressed for the early shifting of the existing CGHS Wellness Centre in Siliguri to the already approved BSNL building, stating that the current rented premises are congested and unsuitable, particularly for elderly and ailing patients.
He additionally sought expedited empanelment of major hospitals, including Hope and Hill Cancer Hospital and Maharaja Agrasen Hospital, and initiation of empanelment for other tertiary care institutions in the region to facilitate access to specialised treatment.
Emphasising the wider significance of the issue, Shringla said equitable access to healthcare is fundamental to dignity, well-being and social justice, and urged the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare to take time-bound and decisive action in line with the Government’s commitment to strengthening healthcare delivery and ensuring that no region or citizen is left behind.