Latest news with #WestBengalLegislativeAssembly
The Hindu
5 days ago
- Health
- The Hindu
West Bengal Assembly passes Bill on ‘transparency' in medical costs in private facilities
The West Bengal Legislative Assembly on Tuesday (June 17, 2025) passed a Bill that aims to regulate the cost of treatment in private clinical establishments in the State, and protect patients from unexpected, inflated charges for healthcare. Also Read | Experts call for regulation and standardisation of private healthcare in India The West Bengal Clinical Establishments (Registration, Regulation, and Transparency) (Amendment) Bill, 2025 was tabled on Monday by the Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare Chandrima Bhattacharya. The Bill amends the West Bengal Clinical Establishments Act, 2017 with the objective to regulate the licensing process of clinical establishments, increase transparency in their functioning, ensure strict adherence to fixed rates and package rates, and mandate electronic medical record-keeping. No hidden charges The Bill states that 'every clinical establishment must strictly follow fixed rates and charges including the package rates for investigation, bed charges, operation theatre procedures'. Under the amended Bill, privately owned medical facilities will also have to provide proper estimates for treatments not covered under fixed or package rates to the patient and their kin during initiation and through the course of treatment. Hospitals have also been mandated to communicate updated charges and the amount due to the patient and their kin every 24 hours. The amended Bill also prohibits final hospital bills from exceeding the estimates by a percentage specified by the State Health Department. Increased surveillance Additionally, the Bill mandates detailed medical record-keeping of patients in the hospital's electronic software via e-prescriptions, and detailed discharge summaries. 'Clinical establishments will maintain such records and other data in the software as may be notified by the State government from time to time and all such records shall be furnished to the State Government electronically and physically, on demand by the Government,' the Bill states. The Opposition raised concerns over women's safety, and confidentiality. During the debate, the Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in the State Assembly Suvendu Adhikari questioned the lack of specific steps or guidelines in the Bill to improve safety for women doctors, nurses, patients, and guards. 'If e-prescription is introduced, will the confidentiality of the patient's personal information be protected?' Mr. Adhikari said. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) legislator also raised questions over the 'practicality' of the new charges being communicated to the patient within 24 hours. 'Sometimes it takes more than 24 hours for a patient's health test report to come. So, this specific time frame is not realistic,' Mr. Adhikari said. Minister Chandrima Bhattacharya responded to the LoP's allegations, saying that, going forward, private hospitals would be obliged to inform patients about the cost of treatment in a timely manner, and that the Bill had been introduced to regulate the private healthcare sector. Notably, the West Bengal Clinical Establishment Regulatory Commission, conceptualised and announced by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in 2017, also oversees treatment infrastructure in private clinical establishments across the State. The President of the Association of Hospitals of Eastern India, Rupak Baruah, said that the Bill was a good initiative to bridge misunderstandings between common people and hospitals, but added that 'medical treatment is a dynamic process that does not always adhere to a fixed system'.
The Hindu
14-06-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Bengal clashes: Suvendu Adhikari demands compensation for vandalised shops
Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari has demanded compensation for shopkeepers whose shops were vandalised in the Rabindra Nagar area of Maheshtala (South 24 Parganas). This comes after clashes erupted between two groups in the area on June 11, which left several police and locals injured and many cars and shops vandalised. Standing outside the West Bengal Legislative Assembly along with other Bhartiya Janta Party leaders on June 13, Mr Adhikari said that adequate compensation should be ensured for victims. 'They vandalised shops, cars, looted shops of 'Hindus', the 'other' community has done the same thing in Samserganj and Suti,' Mr Adhikari said. This came in reference to the communal riots in Murshidabad in April. The LoP also announced that BJP MLAs will participate in a protest against the Maheshtala violence on June 14 right outside the Assembly premises. He also alleged that they are not being 'allowed' to discuss the matter inside the Assembly. 'Our representatives will go to Rabindra Nagar on Saturday, including MLA Agnimitra Paul. If they stop us, we will protest wherever they stop us,' Mr Adhikari added. He also said that they will spend their own MLA salaries to offer medical assistance to the people who have been injured in the communal clashes in Rabindra Nagar. He also offered to pay for any other assistance that the affected 'Hindus' may need stating that the party will never 'abandon' one of their own. Violence broke out in Ward No. 7, Maheshtala, on Wednesday morning, reportedly over the setting up of a shop. The situation took a communal turn following allegations of an attack on a place of worship. Tensions escalated rapidly as two groups clashed, pelting stones and attacking police personnel. The police resorted to tear gas shelling and baton charges to disperse the crowd. Till now the West Bengal Police have arrested 40 people in connection with the violence. Seven FIRs have also been filed. The State BJP accused the police of trying to 'whitewash a communal attack' and sought the deployment of Central forces. The ruling Trinamool Congress, in turn, accused the BJP of trying to incite communal passions. Mr Adhikari met Governor C.V. Ananda Bose and also moved the Calcutta High Court on June 12 asking for Central Force deployment in the violence-hit areas.
Time of India
06-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Abhishek Singh's historical drama receives praise at special screening in Kolkata
Abhishek Singh , a former IAS officer, is rapidly emerging as one of the most promising new talents in Indian cinema . His debut film, the powerful historical drama 1946: Direct Action Day , is eagerly awaited by audiences. The film was screened at the Cannes Film Festival, where it received an enthusiastic response from international viewers. Adding to its growing acclaim, a special screening was recently held in Kolkata, attended by several prominent political dignitaries, including Suvendu Adhikari (Hon'ble Leader of the Opposition, West Bengal Legislative Assembly). The event was hosted by Dr. Indranil Khan (State President, BJYM West Bengal), along with Shakti Singh (State In-charge, BJYM West Bengal). The film presents a haunting and powerful retelling of the Bengal riots—an often overlooked yet pivotal episode that foreshadowed the Partition of India. With evocative visuals and compelling storytelling, it goes beyond historical reconstruction to explore urgent themes of identity, communal strife, and collective memory.
India.com
01-06-2025
- Politics
- India.com
Vote-Bank Vendetta: Political Row Erupts Over Influencer Sharmishta Panolis Arrest
A political row has erupted following the arrest of 22-year-old law student and social media influencer Sharmishta Panoli, with several leaders accusing the Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee-led West Bengal government of practicing 'vote-bank vendetta.' Kolkata police arrested Panoli for allegedly making communal remarks while criticizing Bollywood actors for not speaking up on Operation Sindoor. West Bengal BJP president and Union Minister Sukanta Majumdar termed Panoli's arrest as 'vote-bank vendetta' and a form of injustice. "Sharmistha Panoli, 22, law student, arrested for a now-deleted video and a public apology. No riots. No unrest. Yet Mamata Banerjee's police acted overnight, not for justice, but for appeasement. But when TMC leaders insult Sanatan Dharma, call Jai Shri Ram a gaali, mock Maha Kumbh, and push communal poison — there's no FIR, no arrest, no apology. This is not justice. This is vote-bank vendetta. India is watching," Majumdar said on X. Leader of the Opposition in the West Bengal Legislative Assembly and BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari assured that the Nationalist Lawyers are taking up Sharmistha's matter and will provide her with the best legal defense. "Sharmistha Panoli, a 22-year-old law student and influencer, made a personal comment in wake of the Pahalgam Terrorist attack where Hindus were targeted selectively, which she later deleted and apologized for, yet was arrested by Kolkata Police from Gurgaon. @KolkataPolice, where is this same zeal when idols of Hindu deities are vandalized in West Bengal? When stone pelting happens on Ram Navami & Hanuman Jayanti Processions? I would like to assure everyone that the Nationalist Lawyers are taking up Sharmistha's matter, and the best legal defense will be provided to her. I hope that she will be free from the clutches of the vile & vicious Mamata Police," Adhikari said on X. Andhra Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan said Panoli had apologised for her remarks but was still punished, and he urged the West Bengal police to act justly. "During Operation Sindoor, Sharmistha, a law student, spoke out; her words regrettable and hurtful to some. She owned her mistake, deleted the video, and apologized. The WB Police swiftly acted, taking action against Sharmistha. But what about the deep, searing pain inflicted upon millions when elected leaders, MPs of TMC, mock Sanatana Dharma? Where is the outrage when our faith is called 'Gandha Dharm'? Where is their apology? Where is their swift arrest? Blasphemy must be condemned, always! Secularism isn't a shield for some and a sword for others. It must be a two-way street. West Bengal Police, the nation is watching. Act justly for all," Kalyan said on X. As per media reports, the Kolkata police have filed an FIR against the influencer under sections 196(1)(a) promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, caste, or community; 299 (deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage the religious feelings of any class of citizens); 352 (intentional insult with the intent to provoke a breach of peace); 353(1)(c) (statements that incite public mischief) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. Indian Armed Forces launched Operation Sindoor in retaliation for Pahalgam terror attack, in which 26 innocent civilians were gunned down in cold blood. Under Operation Sindoor, India hit nine terror sites inside Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK), killing 100 terrorists.
NDTV
25-04-2025
- Politics
- NDTV
BJP Leader Calls For Probe On "Suspicious Activity". It Was A WiFi Antenna
New Delhi: Suvendu Adhikari, Leader of Opposition in the West Bengal Legislative Assembly, on Thursday claimed that two "Kashmiri individuals" had sneakily installed a "high-performance" wireless gizmo on their rooftop in Baruipur, a township on the southern outskirts of Kolkata. He also shared an image of what appeared to be an antenna. However, Mr Adhikari's Sherlock-style probe turned out to be a bust - the two men are not from Kashmir, and the antenna was part of a JioFiber internet connection. The device in question, a NanoBeam 2AC wireless network bridge, is typically employed for long-distance, high-speed wireless internet transmission. Mr Adhikari suggested this installation may be linked to suspicious activities, and publicly called for a probe by both the state police and the National Investigation Agency (NIA). "A local contact of mine has shared information with me that two Kashmiri individuals have installed a NanoBeam 2AC compact and high-performance wireless network bridge at the rooftop. Its designed to provide efficient and reliable solution for high-speed, long-distance wireless connectivity. I would request DGP @WBPolice @NIA_India to look into it and find out whether any suspicious activity is going on," Mr Adhikari wrote on X. Within hours of the remarks, Mr Adhikari's post was plastered with a Community Note by X, citing a Baruipur Police statement refuting his allegations. "The input was immediately verified locally. In reality, the two individuals, one of them a Hindu and the other a Muslim, both from Madhya Pradesh, rented a flat in Baruipur about three weeks ago. Engineers by profession, they were exploring business opportunities in pisciculture in West Bengal through a local friend. There is a simple Jiofibre network in their flat as is used by numerous citizens, with nothing suspicious about it," police said. According to the police, they relocated to Kolkata approximately one year ago and rented a two-bedroom apartment in Baruipur. The incident occurred against the backdrop of heightened tensions following the terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam, which resulted in the deaths of 26 people, including one from West Bengal. On Thursday, Mr Adhikari visited Bitan Adhikari's family in the Baisnabghata locality of south Kolkata. Bitan, who had been residing and working in Florida, was killed in the attack. "I am hopeful that both the Centre and the state government will promptly provide financial compensation. Bitan was the only earning member of the family and lived in Florida. His wife is a homemaker, and his ailing parents live in Behala," he said.
