With patients from four to five States visiting West Bengal and availing free treatment at State-run hospitals, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday said there should be a policy to ensure costless treatment meant for patients from the State only was not misused.

Stating that there should be a separate policy for patients coming from other States for treatment, Ms. Banerjee, who is also the Health Minister, stressed that patients from outside the State should carry some form of identity proof.

Convocation address

The Chief Minister was speaking at the 6th convocation of the West Bengal University of Health Sciences held at the Nazrul Mancha.

“At times I get fed up. Doctors at our hospitals have to look after patients from the State as well as from other States. We cannot deny them treatment on humanitarian grounds. Patients from around four to five States are getting treatment here and from two-three neighbouring countries also,” she said.