In a world where access to quality healthcare often mirrors socio-economic divides, AM Medical Centre’s newly launched initiative seeks to redraw that line. Recently unveiled in Kolkata, the philanthropic community healthcare programme, ‘Health for All’, is rooted in a powerful belief: healthcare should be a right, not a luxury.
The launch brought together voices from governance, industry and the creative world. It was graced by dignitaries, including Debasish Kumar, Member of the West Bengal Legislative Assembly and Deputy Chief Whip, Government of West Bengal; R S Goenka, Co-Founder & Joint Chairman, Emami Group; Hari Prasad Budhia, Chairman of Patton Group and film director and actor Arindam Sil. The presence of eminent figures from diverse fields emphasised a shared responsibility towards inclusive healthcare.
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‘Health for All’ is designed to bridge gaps in primary and preventive healthcare. It particularly focuses on economically vulnerable communities. The programme prioritises areas often neglected due to rising private healthcare costs, such as early diagnosis, regular medical consultations, and affordable access to essential diagnostic services. Under the initiative, BPL card holders can avail free medical services upon registration. The range of services includes general physicians, eye consultations, cataract evaluation, and surgical advice where clinically required.
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To complement, the centre has also introduced a Health Privilege Card. It is a comprehensive annual healthcare plan designed to deliver sustained medical benefits through a structured and affordable model. Priced at ₹1,999 and valid for one year, the card covers the primary cardholder and one family member. Annual benefits include general physician visits, eye and dental consultations, refraction tests, and a comprehensive preventive health check-up for the primary cardholder, encompassing blood tests, ECG, chest X-ray, pulmonary function tests, and more.
In a conversation with The Statesman, Dr Moon Chattaraj, prosthodontist and Director of the centre, described the initiative as a response to the growing inaccessibility of healthcare. “We started thinking about two categories of people, the underprivileged and the larger mass who need healthcare but often don’t get it because of the exorbitant rise in private sector costs,” she said, adding, “We are offering services at a subsidised rate that otherwise cost much more. Round the year, patients can access GP consultations, dental, and ENT services, and even day-care surgeries at minimal rates.”
Chattaraj highlighted why the initiative is deeply personal for her. She recalled a moment when she took a homeless child with a severe ear injury to be treated at her centre. “That incident awakened my conscience. As a doctor, I felt I had a responsibility to do something for society,” she claimed. She further added that free services for BPL patients would be offered every Sunday to ensure quality care reaches those most in need.
RS Goenka noted that these kinds of initiatives are vital for social development. “By focusing on accessibility, affordability, and preventive care, this programme addresses real healthcare needs. It is encouraging to see a structured, community-centric approach that brings together medical expertise and social responsibility for meaningful and sustainable impact,” he said.
Arindam Sil echoed similar sentiments while speaking to The Statesman. “It’s an incredible initiative. Such initiatives should come out more. Very few think for the underprivileged. Everything is not just about doing business. The field of medicine must go beyond profit and embrace social responsibility,” he stressed.
Looking ahead, the centre plans to expand the initiative across West Bengal. “We have just launched the initiative. Our long-term development plan includes opening different centres across the state, and if it matures, we plan to expand it pan India. Eventually, we also want to develop into a full-fledged hospital,” Dr Chattaraj stated. For now, it stands as a step towards a compassionate healthcare ecosystem guided not by privilege, but by need.
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