For nearly ten years, the Swasthya Sathi program stood as West Bengal’s main health insurance initiative, playing a key role in the welfare policies of Mamata Banerjee, the leader of the Trinamool Congress (TMC). This cashless health coverage, which started on December 30, 2016, aimed to provide an annual insurance of Rs 5 lakh to all residents of the state, excluding those already covered by other public health schemes, like state employees.
The TMC government even opted out of joining the Ayushman Bharat program by the central government, claiming their own policy was better. However, a recent audit by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) has raised concerns about the effectiveness of the Swasthya Sathi scheme and has prompted questions about its legacy.
