Status of Health Care in West Bengal: Initiatives, Achievements and Critical Analysis

Health has been given the status of fundamental right and made a key issue in public policy discourse in India. However, the significant gap between policy goals and actual accomplishments has created hindrances for the state to do justice with its much cherished goal of “Health for All”. Inadequacies and inequities in accessing universal healthcare benumbs quality healthcare and results in significant lagging of health outcomes. However, the attempt of the state of West Bengal to embark on a health strategy along with NRHM is in fact a commendable step in providing universal health coverage to all particularly the vulnerable section. The present write up is aimed at articulating the actual health scenario in the state with the help of various health indicators and evaluate how far the state has been successful in achieving its health-related targets