Letter No. 7456 – Furnishing Report under West Bengal Health Scheme (WBHS)
The West Bengal government, through its Health & Family Welfare Department, periodically issues letters and circulars to Drawing and Disbursing Officers (DDOs), Head of Offices, and departmental heads regarding the West Bengal Health Scheme (WBHS). Letter No. 7456 pertains to the mandatory furnishing of reports by offices under the WBHS framework.
About West Bengal Health Scheme (WBHS)
The West Bengal Health Scheme (WBHS) was introduced to provide comprehensive medical benefits to state government employees, pensioners, and their eligible dependents. Under this scheme, beneficiaries can avail:
- Cashless treatment at empanelled hospitals and diagnostic centres
- Reimbursement of medical expenses incurred at non-empanelled health care organisations (HCOs)
- OPD and IPD benefits including specialist consultations, diagnostics, and surgeries
- Coverage for critical illnesses notified under the scheme
Purpose of Furnishing Reports under WBHS
The requirement to furnish periodic reports under WBHS serves several important administrative purposes:
- Enrolment monitoring: Offices must report the number of employees and pensioners enrolled under WBHS, ensuring no eligible beneficiary is left out.
- Claim settlement tracking: DDOs are required to report on pending reimbursement claims, enabling the Health Department to identify bottlenecks and ensure timely settlement.
- Compliance verification: The government verifies whether offices are correctly implementing WBHS guidelines, including proper deduction of WBHS subscription from salaries.
- Data reconciliation: Reports help reconcile data between the WBHS portal, the HRMS system, and departmental records.
Responsibilities of DDOs & Head of Offices under WBHS
Drawing and Disbursing Officers and Heads of Offices have the following responsibilities under the WBHS reporting framework:
| Responsibility | Details |
| Enrolment of eligible employees | Ensure all eligible state government employees are enrolled under WBHS through the online portal |
| Monthly subscription deduction | Deduct WBHS subscription from the salary of enrolled employees as per prescribed rates |
| Forwarding reimbursement claims | Scrutinise and forward employee medical reimbursement claims to the Treasury/Pay & Accounts Office in time |
| Furnishing reports when called | Submit compliance reports as and when directed by the Health Department or Directorate of Health Services |
| Maintaining records | Keep a register of WBHS-enrolled employees and a log of all claims processed at the office level |
WBHS Online Portal
Most WBHS-related activities, including enrolment, claim submission, and report generation, are now handled through the WBHS online portal. Employees and DDOs can log in to track claim status, update beneficiary details, and download relevant circulars.
For the latest circulars, notifications, and letters issued under WBHS — including those relating to report furnishing — employees and officers may refer to the official communications published by the Finance Department and the Health & Family Welfare Department, Government of West Bengal.