Murshidabad is one of the most populous districts of West Bengal, home to nearly seventy lakh people. The Bhagirathi river divides the district in two — Berhampore and Lalbag on one side, Jangipur and Samserganj on the other. To serve such a large population, the district has built an extensive network of medical colleges, state hospitals, sub-divisional hospitals and block-level primary health centres. Murshidabad Medical College and Hospital in Berhampore is the main hub of advanced care for the entire district.
Major Hospitals and Medical Centres
| Hospital | Type | Location | Phone |
|---|---|---|---|
| Murshidabad Medical College & Hospital | Medical College | Berhampore | 03482-274095 |
| Berhampore New General Hospital | State General | Berhampore | — |
| Domkal Sub-divisional Hospital | Sub-divisional | Domkal | — |
| Jangipur Sub-divisional Hospital | Sub-divisional | Jangipur | — |
Murshidabad Medical College and Hospital is the largest medical institution in the district, with specialist doctors, an emergency department, ICU facilities and advanced surgical services. Critically ill patients from remote areas such as Lalgola, Samserganj or Farakka are often referred here. The sub-divisional hospitals act as the backbone of emergency and general care in their own localities.
Emergency Numbers
- Police: 100
- Ambulance: 108
- Fire: 101
- KYC (Women and Child Helpline): 1078
The state government’s 108 ambulance service covers the district’s towns and villages. When bringing a patient from riverine char areas or distant villages, booking the ambulance in advance is a sensible step.
Health Services and Benefits
- Swasthya Sathi Card: Under the Swasthya Sathi scheme, every family in Murshidabad gets free treatment up to an annual limit at government and empanelled private hospitals. Cards can be corrected or updated at block offices or digital service centres.
- Primary Health Centres: The district’s 26 community development blocks have primary health centres and rural hospitals offering free consultations, medicines and diagnostics.
- Immunisation: Complete childhood vaccination, tetanus shots and vitamin A programmes run routinely, with special immunisation days at anganwadi centres.
- Maternal and Child Care: Promotion of institutional delivery, postnatal care and adolescent health programmes operate at block level.
- Waterborne Disease Prevention: In this riverine district, diarrhoea and typhoid awareness drives get particular attention during the monsoon — drink boiled water.
- Medical Camps: Eye, dental and general health camps are regularly organised by the government and NGOs.
Health Tips
- Drink boiled water during the monsoon to reduce the risk of waterborne diseases.
- Regular walking and a vegetable-rich diet lower the risk of diabetes and heart disease.
- After 40, get a full health check-up at least once a year.
- Quit smoking and chewing tobacco — they are the leading causes of cancer and breathing problems.
- Make sure every family member knows the emergency numbers.