July 19, 2013
It`s West Bengal Model for India`s health, Centre has to accept Bengal`s way
Truth can never be hidden forever. That there is a surge of developmental activities in West Bengal, after the Trinamool Government came in power in 2 years ago, has been tried to be kept hidden by some media and other jealous onlookers. Path breaking examples have been countered. However, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India could not help themselves this time. They had to accept the fact that to revolutionize the health sector, the best working model they had in hand was that of Bengal`s. Recently Government of India has advised all State Governments and Union Territories to consider adopting the `West Bengal model`.
In her most recent Facebook post the Trinamool Congress Chairperson commented –
“You may recall that our Government had introduced Fair Price Medicine Shops in government hospitals which offer discounts on generic medicines, consumables and implants ranging from 48% to 67.25% on maximum retail price.
I am happy to inform all of you that our scheme has been accepted as a model by the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India and they have advised all State Governments and Union Territories to consider adopting the `West Bengal model`.
It is, no doubt, a recognition of our commitment and efforts to provide benefits to the common people and help them save their precious money in their hour of distress.“
West Bengal Government had planned to set up fair price medicine shops in each of the 19 districts of the State. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said that the setting up of fair price shops would help bring down the cost of medicines, thereby benefiting the end-consumers. “These fair price shops give discounts, some shops even give discounts of 50-60 per cent on some medicines,“ she said at the inauguration of a fair price medicine shop at the State-run SSKM Hospital in January 2013.
After the opening of the fair price medicine shops, the state government plans to open similar diagnostic centres where services will be offered for as low as Rs 500. “We are planing to build fair price diagnostics centers. MRI, CT scan, blood tests and other tests cost Rs 2000-3000 at private diagnostic centres. You can get these tests done for just Rs 500,“ Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee told a function on International Women`s Day.
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