WBHS: Great News for West Bengal Government Employees! Simplifies Health Scheme Form

There’s welcome news for beneficiaries of the West Bengal Health Scheme (WBHS). The Government of West Bengal has significantly streamlined the process for claiming medical reimbursement for treatment at non-empanelled hospitals. According to a recent memorandum from the Finance Department’s Medical Cell, dated May 28, 2025, a key change has been made to the submission rules for Annexure-II.

This new rule is a major relief for state government employees and pensioners who often faced difficulties in procuring the necessary documents after receiving treatment at hospitals not listed under the scheme.

What Was the Previous Challenge?

Previously, to claim reimbursement for In-Patient Department (IPD) treatment at a non-empanelled hospital under WBHS, a beneficiary had to submit a certificate on the hospital’s official letterhead. This certificate needed to include the patient’s WBHS Enrolment ID, the hospital’s Clinical Establishment License details and its validity, and the total bed capacity.

However, it was observed that many non-empanelled hospitals were reluctant to certify the WBHS Enrolment ID. The primary reason was their inability to access the WBHS Portal to verify the beneficiary’s details, leading to difficulties for employees and pensioners trying to claim their medical expenses.

The New and Simplified Solution

To resolve this issue and make the process more efficient, the Governor has approved a revision of the Annexure-II process. The new, simplified procedure is as follows:

• Download the Form: The Annexure-II form must now be downloaded directly from the official West Bengal Health Scheme portal at https://healthscheme.wb.gov.in. No login is required to access the form.
• Beneficiary Fills First: The concerned employee or pensioner will first fill in the required details pertaining to themselves or their beneficiaries on the downloaded form.
• Hospital’s Role: The form is then taken to the hospital. The hospital authority will fill in its details, including the Clinical Establishment license number and its validity, and the bed capacity. Finally, they will affix a signature and the official hospital seal in the designated space on the form itself.

This change eliminates the need for a separate certificate on the hospital’s letterhead, streamlining the entire documentation process for a smoother claim.

Effective Date

This new directive takes effect from its date of issuance, which is May 28, 2025. This is undoubtedly a positive and user-friendly step for the lakhs of government employees and pensioners covered under the West Bengal Health Scheme.