Authorities of the All India Institute of Medical Science (AIIMS) in Kalyani have written to the Bengal government to include it as a service provider under its flagship health insurance scheme Swasthya Sathi.

Since the facilities under the Centre-sponsored health insurance scheme Ayushman Bharat would remain unavailable to the people in the state as the Bengal government did not join the scheme, the authorities of AIIMS Kalyani have appealed to the Mamata Banerjee government to let it become a service provided for the Swasthya Sathi scheme. The authorities apprehend a large increase in footfall after the facility becomes fully operational on February 25.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to shortly inaugurate the central health care facilities in Kalyani virtually from Rajkot, along with four other AIIMS located in Jammu, Bathinda, Mangalgiri and Rae Bareli.

A team of Union health ministry officials led by Vippul Aggarwal visited AIIMS Kalyani on Friday and gave the green signal for its inauguration, sources said. Aggarwal visited the facilities and expressed satisfaction.

AIIMS Kalyani executive director Ramji Singh said: “We have written to the Bengal government and they in turn made some queries. The matter is under process and I am hopeful that people with state government’s health insurance scheme will be able to avail of the benefits.”

An officer in the state health department said the matter was being examined and finalised soon.

AIIMS Kalyani’s outpatient department was started in 2020 with limited facilities. From February 25, AIIMS Kalyani will become fully operational with 43 departments that include 17 super-speciality wings, the health facility’s executive director Ramji Singh said. “It is big news for the people of Bengal. I am hopeful we will be able to provide the best services to them coming up to their expectations,” Singh told The Telegraph.

Located on 179 acres of land in Basantapur on the outskirts of Kalyani town. The land was arranged by the state government and can accommodate 360 indoor patients.

“We have an extension plan to accommodate 960 indoor patients in the coming days,” Singh said adding that the infrastructure also had 18 ICU beds and 23 modular operation theatres.

Bed charges for indoor patients will be Rs 35 and it includes food as well, Singh said.

However, insufficient numbers of doctors still come up as a big impediment to cater to more patients.
“We have at present 146 faculties and doctors. We are hopeful more doctors will join us soon and provide the best service,” he added.

AIIMS Kalyani was approved under the Centre’s Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojona on October 7, 2015, and began academic activities in 2016 by admitting 50 MBBS students