Cooch Behar is a district in northern West Bengal, bordering Bangladesh and Assam. Carrying the heritage of the Koch dynasty, the district’s health infrastructure revolves around MJN Hospital and the Cooch Behar Government Medical College and Hospital. The sub-divisional hospitals at Dinhata and Mathabhanga are the main lifelines for people in the district’s north-eastern parts, while primary health centres and sub-centres serve the wetland and riverine villages.
Major Hospitals and Medical Centres
| Hospital | Type | Location | Phone |
|---|---|---|---|
| MJN Hospital (Maharaja Nripendra Narayan) | District Hospital | Cooch Behar | 03582-228779 |
| Cooch Behar Govt. Medical College & Hospital | Medical College | Cooch Behar | — |
| Dinhata Sub-divisional Hospital | Sub-divisional | Dinhata | 03581-255002 |
| Mathabhanga Sub-divisional Hospital | Sub-divisional | Mathabhanga | 03583-255261 |
MJN Hospital is the district’s oldest and principal hospital, offering emergency, maternity, paediatric and surgical services. Since the medical college became functional, residents can access advanced care and specialist doctors close to home — a journey that earlier meant travelling to Siliguri.
Emergency Numbers
- Police: 100
- Ambulance: 108
- Fire: 101
- KYC (Women and Child Helpline): 1078
The 108 ambulance service operates in every block of the district. Journeys from riverside char villages are long, so arranging an ambulance early is critical in an emergency.
Health Services and Benefits
- Swasthya Sathi Card: Families in Cooch Behar receive free treatment under the Swasthya Sathi scheme at government and empanelled private hospitals. Card corrections and renewals can be done at the block health office or digital service centres.
- Primary Health Centres: The district’s 12 blocks have primary health centres and sub-centres offering free consultations, medicines and basic tests.
- Immunisation: Routine vaccination of children and mothers, along with vitamin A programmes, runs at block and anganwadi level.
- Maternal and Child Health: The focus is on institutional delivery and postnatal care, with support available for transporting mothers and newborns from remote villages.
- Disease Control: Regular surveys, free testing and awareness drives cover dengue, malaria, kala-azar and diarrhoea. In wetland areas, avoiding mosquito bites is especially important.
- Medical Camps: Eye and general health camps are organised across the district through government initiatives.
Health Tips
- Clear stagnant water in the monsoon and use mosquito nets — mosquito-borne diseases are a higher risk in wetland areas.
- Drink clean water and wash hands before eating — the simplest way to prevent diarrhoea.
- Walk daily and keep up the habit of eating vegetables.
- After 40, check blood pressure and blood sugar at least once a year.
- Save the emergency numbers on your phone and share them with your family.