Paschim Medinipur district is home to nearly forty-eight lakh people — on one side the towns of Midnapore and Kharagpur, on the other villages of the laterite belt bordering Jhargram. At the centre of the district’s health infrastructure is Midnapore Medical College and Hospital, the main destination for advanced care across the western region. There is a railway hospital at Kharagpur, a sub-divisional hospital at Ghatal, and a wide network of primary health centres across all 21 blocks.
Major Hospitals and Medical Centres
| Hospital | Type | Location | Phone |
|---|---|---|---|
| Midnapore Medical College & Hospital | Medical College | Midnapore | 03222-275503 |
| Kharagpur Railway Hospital | Railway Hospital | Kharagpur | — |
| Ghatal Sub-divisional Hospital | Sub-divisional | Ghatal | 03225-255064 |
| Dr. B.C. Roy Institute of Medical Sciences | Medical College | Midnapore | — |
Midnapore 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 distant blocks like Salboni, Dantan or Keshiari are referred here. The Kharagpur Railway Hospital serves railway staff as well as general patients, while Ghatal Sub-divisional Hospital is the close-to-home recourse for people of the floodplain region.
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 remote 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 Paschim Medinipur 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 21 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.
- Natural Disasters and Health: During floods in the Ghatal region, waterborne disease prevention and emergency medical preparedness become especially important.
- 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.