Mamata stresses separate policy for outside state patients

With patients from four to five states visiting West Bengal and availing free treatment at state-run hospitals,West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee today said there should be a policy to ensure costless treatment meant for patients from the state only was not misused.

Stating that there should be a separate policy for patients coming from other states for treatment, Banerjee, who is also the health minister, stressed that patients from outside the state should carry some form of identity proof.

The CM was speaking at the 6th convocation of the West Bengal University of Health Sciences held at the Nazrul Mancha.

"At times I get fed up. Doctors at our hospitals have to look after patients from the state as well as from other states. We cannot deny them treatment on humanitarian ground. Patients from around four to five states are getting treatment here and from two-three neighbouring countries also," she said.

"But we have to form a policy (for patients from outside the state). They must be carrying voter identity card or some other identity proof to ensure that only those who are from our state get treatment free of cost," she said.

We will definitely provide treatment to those who are visiting from other states but they will have to follow a separate system for that or we will not be able to bear the expenses," Banerjee added.