Chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday told the Assembly that the state government was investigating a suspicious and sharp rise in spending under Swasthya Sathi during the doctors’ protests over the RG Kar rape and murder and promised stern action against those found guilty.
Responding to a question on the alleged spike from Samir Jana, the Trinamool Congress MLA from Patharpratima, during Question Hour, Mamata said: “It’s a good question.”
“Sometimes, it’s best not to speak the unpleasant truth…. Yes, a lot of money went out that way,” she said.
Jana was referring to a purported survey that claimed that during the junior doctors’ movement demanding justice for the RG Kar victim, there was a surge in the state government’s expenses under the Swasthya Sathi scheme.
“If there was corruption with Swasthya Sathi cards at that time, is the state aware of it?” Jana asked. He said action should be taken if the allegations are true.
Mamata, who is also the state health minister, said: “The RG Kar matter is sub judice.... At that time, there was indeed a surge in expenditure under Swasthya Sathi.”
Health department officials said they have found that many government doctors, who are not eligible to practise at private hospitals, have treated Swasthya Sathi patients at private hospitals during the protests that started after the rape and murder of a junior doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital on August 9.
“Many government hospital doctors, including those who take the non-practising allowance as well as those who are not authorised to treat patients at private hospitals, have treated patients under Swasthya Sathi,” said a health official.
Swasthya Sathi is a state-run health insurance programme in Bengal for secondary and tertiary care. Each beneficiary family is entitled to ₹5 lakh per annum.
According to the state government’s website, more than 85 lakh hospital admissions have been approved under Swasthya Sathi from December 2016, when the scheme was launched, till November 25.
“We do have evidence. We have found many. Stern action will be taken against those who misappropriated taxpayers’ money... be a little patient,” the chief minister said about the alleged surge in expenses.
“We tend to trust innocently. That’s what we always do at first. But at least one per cent tend to betray that trust.”
Mamata said the first phase of the probe is over and the state government is re-examining the evidence. “We are running another round of checks. We found certain things in the first phase of the investigation,” she said.
“The mother of thieves shouts most, we know this. It does not apply to this question alone.... You will not work but take money, that cannot happen,” the chief minister said.
“We are not going to be autocratic about this. But the action on this issue, as and when it is taken, cannot be deemed autocratic.”
