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Bengal Government order immediately surrender of Swasthya Sathi & Ayushman cards who are covered under WBHS

• By A Correspondent, Kolkata
• October 10, 2026
• 1242

The Bengal state government has directed government employees, pensioners, and their dependents covered under the West Bengal Health Scheme (WBHS) to immediately surrender their Swasthya Sathi and/or Ayushman Bharat cards. A directive issued on Friday by the Medical Cell of the Finance Department states that individuals covered under the WBHS who possess such cards—either in their own names or in the names of family members must surrender them to the concerned authorities.

As per the directive, the prescribed declaration must be submitted along with proof of card surrender. Employees are required to submit these to their respective heads of department, while pensioners must submit them to the office where WBHS claims are lodged. Instructions have been issued to complete this process by 31st October 2026.

The government has clearly stated that failure to comply with the directive within the stipulated timeframe will result in the temporary suspension of all medical benefits under the WBHS. In the case of employees, non-compliance will be treated as misconduct, and disciplinary action will be initiated. A specimen declaration form for the surrender of cards has also been published alongside the guidelines.