Bengal not spending Centre's money on health: BJP

Kolkata: BJP today alleged that the Mamata Banerjee government was not spending the money the Centre provided to it for improving the health infrastructure of the state.

"The Centre is giving money to West Bengal. But the Mamata Banerjee government is not spending the money on health", BJP national spokesperson Sambit Patra said.

"Keeping in mind the federal structure of the country, the Centre sends money. But we do not see it is spent for improving the health infrastructure of West Bengal", Patra told reporters on the sidelines of an ABVP-oraganised convention organised by medicos and junior doctors.

Patra said that the Centre had provided Rs 150 crore for upgrading three hospitals of West Bengal into super-speciality ones. "But that is not being done", he said.

"See the case of Narada. While the Centre's intention is health, Trinamool's intention is politics and corruption", he said.

Referring to the National Health Policy announced recently, he said Prime Minister Narendra Modi had set a target of increased GDP spend from 1.5 per cent to 2.5 per cent on healthcare over a phased manner.

The average life expectancy of an Indian had also been targetted to increased from 67.5 years to 70 years in the policy.