Archive · 26 Jul 2026
CAG flags irregularities in West Bengal's Swasthya Sathi Scheme
The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India has found many problems in West Bengal's Swasthya Sathi health insurance scheme.
The scheme, which helps people get medical treatment without paying upfront, has been giving too much money to hospitals, not paying insurance claims on time, and not checking properly who is using the scheme.
The government has promised to fix these issues and make things better.
The opposition says the previous government did not handle the money well and did not tell the public about these problems earlier.
CAG found excess payments of Rs 14.48 crore to hospitals under the Swasthya Sathi Scheme.
Unpaid insurance claims worth Rs 7.26 crore were identified, with no reasons recorded.
The scheme faced a shortage of healthcare providers, with only 2,605 empanelled against a requirement of 3,038.
The State Nodal Agency failed to recover penalties worth Rs 31.33 crore from insurers for delayed claim settlements.
The scheme incurred excess expenditure of Rs 46.97 crore on enrolment and distribution of smart cards.
- Who
- Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India
- What
- Flagged financial and operational irregularities in West Bengal's Swasthya Sathi Scheme
- When
- Audit report tabled on July 25, 2026
- Where
- West Bengal, India
- Why
- To highlight deficiencies in the scheme's implementation and financial management
Government Response
Opposition Criticism
Scheme Implementation
Government Response
The current government is committed to addressing the issues and ensuring transparency through detailed Assembly discussions.
Opposition Criticism
The previous government failed to present mandatory CAG reports, indicating a lack of accountability and transparency.
Financial Management
Government Response
The current administration is taking steps to improve financial management and governance.
Opposition Criticism
The previous government's financial mismanagement led to a fiscal deficit of over Rs 8 lakh crore.
- Scheme Launch Date
- December 30, 2016
- Coverage per Family
- Up to Rs 5 lakh per year
- Excess Payments to Hospitals
- Rs 14.48 crore
- Unpaid Insurance Claims
- Rs 7.26 crore
- Penalties Not Recovered
- Rs 31.33 crore
- Borrowings for Scheme
- Rs 721.95 crore
- Interest Payments on Borrowings
- Rs 10.85 crore
- Penalties Imposed on Healthcare Providers
- Rs 11.78 crore