The Sishu Saathi scheme is a flagship initiative of the West Bengal Government, launched by the Chief Minister, aimed at providing free treatment for children who require heart surgeries—regardless of the parents’ economic status. Launched on August 21, 2013, the scheme ensures that 3,000 children each year receive free paediatric cardiac surgery by partnering with both private and government hospitals.
Benefits
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Free Paediatric Cardiac Surgery:
The scheme provides free heart surgery for children up to 12 years suffering from heart ailments. -
Inclusive Coverage:
All children aged 0 to 18 years with heart diseases are eligible, irrespective of family income or caste. -
Comprehensive Medical Support:
All treatment-related expenses, including surgeries and pre- and post-operative care, are fully borne by the State Government. -
Expansion of Services:
The scheme is expected to extend to cover surgeries for congenital cataracts, cleft lips, and cleft palates.
Salient Features
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Screening Program:
The State Government conducts health tests in government schools under the Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK) to detect heart ailments. -
Partnerships:
The government has tied up with three private hospitals—BM Birla Heart Research Centre, RN Tagore Institute of Cardiac Sciences in Kolkata, and Mission Hospital in Durgapur—as well as several government hospitals including IPGMER, Kolkata; Seth Sukhlal Karnani Memorial Hospital; B.C. Roy Memorial Hospital for Children; and R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital. -
Accessibility:
All children from any economic background are eligible for the benefits.
Eligibility
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Beneficiary:
Any child aged 0 to 18 years suffering from heart disease who requires cardiac surgery. -
No Income Criteria:
The benefit is available irrespective of the family’s economic status. -
All Caste & Gender:
The scheme is open to male, female, and transgender children from all castes residing in urban or rural areas within West Bengal.
Application Process
Offline Process:
- Interested beneficiaries or their guardians should contact the Chief Medical Officer of Health (CMOH) of the district, the Block Medical Officer of Health (BMOH) at the block level, or the District Family Welfare Officer (DFWO) in Kolkata for further guidance on the application process.
Documents Required
- No Documents Required:
The scheme does not mandate any specific documents for application; however, beneficiaries may be required to undergo standard medical evaluations as per hospital protocols.