Overview
- Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee launched the first tranche at Swasthya Bhawan in Kolkata after returning from a North Bengal visit.
- A total of 210 mobile medical units are ready, with the remaining vans to be introduced in later phases and redeployed based on local demand.
- Each self-contained van provides about 35 free diagnostics, including blood tests, chest X-ray and ECG, with some fitted with ultrasonography for areas such as the Sundarbans.
- Staffing includes a medical officer, nurse, pharmacist, lab and ECG technicians and a data operator, with referrals to district hospitals when needed.
- Procurement cost is about Rs 84 crore, of which around Rs 60 crore comes from Rajya Sabha MPLAD funds, and the state has budgeted around Rs 2.5 crore per month to run the service.