West Bengal Sishu Saathi Scheme: Free Heart Surgery for Children

Sishu Saathi Scheme is a West Bengal Government initiative that provides completely free cardiac surgery to children suffering from heart diseases. Launched in 2013, the scheme ensures that eligible children up to 12 years of age receive life-saving treatment without any financial burden through empanelled government and private hospitals.

Introduction of West Bengal Sishu Saathi Scheme: A Brief Insight

Shishu Saathi Scheme (officially referred to as SishuSaathi) is a flagship healthcare initiative launched by the Government of West Bengal on 21 August 2013 to provide free cardiac surgery to children suffering from heart diseases. The scheme focuses on ensuring that no child is deprived of life-saving treatment due to financial constraints, especially in cases of congenital heart conditions.

The primary objective of the scheme is to detect heart ailments at an early stage and provide timely surgical intervention. It is implemented by the Health & Family Welfare Department under the broader framework of Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK), where children are screened in government schools and referred for advanced treatment when required.

Under the SishuSaathi Scheme, the Government bears the complete cost of treatment, including surgery, hospitalisation, medicines, and diagnostics. Eligible children up to 12 years of age can avail treatment at empanelled government and private super-speciality hospitals without paying any charges. This makes the scheme a focused medical support system that complements broader healthcare coverage initiatives such as Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana and Swasthya Sathi Scheme, which provide financial protection for general hospitalisation.

The scheme follows a referral-based approach rather than a direct application process. Children are identified through school health screening or can be directly taken to empanelled hospitals, where doctors verify the condition and initiate treatment under the scheme without lengthy paperwork.

The West Bengal Government has introduced several welfare schemes aimed at improving healthcare, education, and social security for its citizens. If you want to explore more such initiatives, you can check our All Welfare Schemes of West Bengal Government section for detailed and updated information.

Benefits Provided to Eligible Beneficiaries

Under the Sishu Saathi Scheme, the Government of West Bengal ensures that children suffering from heart diseases receive complete treatment support without any financial burden on the family.

• 100% free paediatric cardiac surgery.
• All treatment costs borne by the State Government.
• Includes surgery, hospitalisation, medicines, and diagnostic procedures.
• Access to both Government and empanelled private super-speciality hospitals.
• Treatment available in advanced cardiac care centres (Kolkata, Durgapur, etc.).
• No income limit, benefit available to all eligible children.
• Early detection through school health screening under RBSK.
• Referral-based treatment ensures timely medical intervention.

What Makes the Sishu Saathi Scheme Unique

The Sishu Saathi Scheme stands apart from most other government healthcare schemes in India due to four specific features that the Government of West Bengal has officially confirmed :

• No income barrier whatsoever: Unlike most welfare schemes that restrict benefits to BPL families or those with income below a threshold, the Shishu Saathi Scheme is open to ALL children, regardless of how rich or poor the family is. A child from an affluent family gets the same free surgery as a child from a BPL family.
• Proactive detection through school health screening: The government does not wait for parents to apply. It actively screens children in government schools under RBSK to find cardiac cases and bring them into treatment. This proactive approach saves lives that would otherwise go undetected.
• Partnership with private super-speciality hospitals: The scheme uses empanelled private cardiac hospitals alongside government hospitals, giving children access to world-class cardiac care facilities that would otherwise cost lakhs of rupees.
• 100% cost coverage: Surgery, hospitalisation, medicines, diagnostics, all expenses are entirely borne by the State Government. Families pay absolutely nothing.

Eligibility Conditions Required to be Fulfilled

Eligibility under the Sishu Saathi Scheme is based on the child’s age and medical condition. The scheme specifically targets children requiring cardiac surgery and follows a referral-based identification process.

• The child must be suffering from a cardiac (heart) disease requiring surgical intervention.
• The age of the child should be up to 12 years.
• The child must be a resident of West Bengal.
• No income criteria, all children are eligible irrespective of family income.
• The child should be identified through:
  • Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK) screening in schools.
  • OR referral from a Government health facility / empanelled hospital.

Important Clarification (Age Group Confusion)

Under the Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK), children from 0 to 18 years are screened for health conditions. However, under the Sishu Saathi Scheme, free cardiac surgery is provided specifically to children up to 12 years of age.

Documents Required to be Attached

Sishu Saathi Scheme does not follow a traditional application-based process. However, certain medical and identification documents are required at the time of diagnosis and treatment for verification and referral.

• Medical diagnosis report confirming cardiac (heart) disease.
• Referral slip generated under Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK) or from a government health facility.
• Age proof of the child (Birth Certificate / School Record).
• Address proof of the child or parent (to establish residence in West Bengal).
• Hospital records and investigation reports (if already under treatment).
• Doctor’s recommendation for cardiac surgery.

How Beneficiaries Can Apply to Avail the Benefit of this Scheme

Sishu Saathi Scheme does not follow a direct application-based system. The benefit is provided through a screening and referral mechanism, ensuring that eligible children are identified and treated without requiring parents to fill out complex forms.

Process Through School Health Screening (RBSK)

Step 1: Health screening of children is conducted in government schools under the Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK).

Step 2: During screening, if a child is suspected of having a cardiac (heart) condition, the case is identified by the medical team.

Step 3: The child is referred to a higher medical facility or empanelled hospital for further diagnosis.

Step 4: After confirmation of the disease, the child is enrolled under the Sishu Saathi Scheme for treatment.

Step 5: Free cardiac surgery is conducted at the empanelled hospital, and all expenses are borne by the Government.

Direct Approach Through the Hospital

Step 1: Parents can directly visit a government hospital or an empanelled cardiac hospital if the child is already diagnosed with a heart condition.

Step 2: The hospital evaluates the medical condition and verifies eligibility under the scheme.

Step 3: Upon confirmation, the child is registered under the scheme through the hospital authorities.

Step 4: Treatment and surgery are carried out free of cost as per medical requirement.

Important Notes

• No online application or registration portal is required.
• No prescribed application form for beneficiaries.
• Identification is primarily done through RBSK or hospital referral.
• The government directly covers all treatment expenses with empanelled hospitals.

List of Empanelled Hospitals Under Sishu Saathi Scheme

Treatment under the scheme is provided through selected government and private super-speciality hospitals equipped with paediatric cardiac care facilities.

Government Hospitals

• Seth Sukhlal Karnani Memorial Hospital (SSKM) / IPGMER, Kolkata.
• B.C. Roy Memorial Hospital for Children, Kolkata.
• R.G. Kar Medical College & Hospital, Kolkata.

Private Empanelled Hospitals

• BM Birla Heart Research Centre, Kolkata.
• RN Tagore Institute of Cardiac Sciences, Kolkata.
• Mission Hospital, Durgapur.

Important Links Available

• Sishu Saathi Scheme Official Page – West Bengal Government Portal
• Health & Family Welfare Department, West Bengal.
• West Bengal Sishu Saathi Scheme Guidelines. (Official PDF)

Contact Details in Case of Help Needed

For assistance related to the Sishu Saathi Scheme, parents or guardians can approach the following authorities, depending on the stage of treatment and location.

• Primary Contact Points:
  • Nearest Government Hospital or Medical College Hospital.
  • Empanelled Cardiac Hospitals providing paediatric surgery.
• School-Level Identification Support:
  • RBSK (Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram) Health Teams.
  • School Authorities (for screening and referral assistance).
• District Level Authorities:
  • Chief Medical Officer of Health (CMOH) of the concerned district.
  • District Health & Family Welfare Office.
• State Level Department:
  • Health & Family Welfare Department, Government of West Bengal.
• Major Government Hospitals for Reference:
  • B.C. Roy Memorial Hospital for Children, Kolkata.
  • IPGMER / SSKM Hospital, Kolkata.
  • R.G. Kar Medical College & Hospital, Kolkata.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

The following questions clarify key aspects of the Sishu Saathi Scheme, including eligibility, treatment process, and how children receive benefits under the scheme.

Q1. What is the Sishu Saathi Scheme?

Ans. Sishu Saathi Scheme is a Government of West Bengal initiative that provides completely free cardiac surgery to children suffering from heart diseases, ensuring treatment without any financial burden.

Q2. Who is eligible under the Sishu Saathi Scheme?

Ans. Children up to 12 years of age who are diagnosed with a cardiac condition requiring surgery are eligible. There is no income limit for availing benefits.

Q3. Is there any income criteria to apply?

Ans. No, the scheme is universal in nature. All children meeting the medical and age criteria can avail benefits irrespective of family income.

Q4. How can parents apply for this scheme?

Ans. There is no direct application process. Children are identified through school health screening under RBSK or can be referred through the government or empanelled hospitals.

Q5. What expenses are covered under the scheme?

Ans. The scheme covers the full cost of cardiac surgery, including hospitalisation, medicines, diagnostics, and related treatment expenses.

Q6. Which hospitals provide treatment under this scheme?

Ans. Treatment is available at selected government medical colleges and empanelled private super-speciality hospitals in West Bengal.

Q7. Is there any online portal for registration?

Ans. No, there is no online registration portal. The scheme operates through a referral-based system.

Q8. What is the age limit under the Sishu Saathi Scheme?

Ans. The scheme covers children up to 12 years of age for cardiac surgery. However, health screening under RBSK covers children up to 18 years.

Q9. Can parents directly approach hospitals for treatment?

Ans. Yes, parents can directly visit empanelled hospitals if the child is already diagnosed, where eligibility will be verified by hospital authorities.

Q10. Is this scheme still active?

Ans. Yes, the Sishu Saathi Scheme is an active scheme of the West Bengal Government and continues to provide free cardiac surgeries to eligible children.

Tabassum

Tabassum is a government schemes researcher and writer with 5 years of experience tracking Central and State welfare programmes across India. She has covered 500+ schemes spanning agriculture, women welfare, education, and housing, helping lakhs of beneficiaries understand their entitlements in simple language.