West Bengal has one of eastern India's largest healthcare networks, anchored by major public teaching hospitals in Kolkata and district hospitals across the state.
## Major hospitals and medical institutions - **Medical College and Hospital, Kolkata** — one of India's oldest medical colleges and a major tertiary-care public hospital. - **Nil Ratan Sircar (NRS) Medical College and Hospital** — large government referral hospital in Kolkata. - **R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital** — major public teaching hospital. - **S.S.K.M. Hospital / Institute of Post Graduate Medical Education and Research (IPGMER)** — leading state-run tertiary institution. - **Calcutta National Medical College and Hospital** — major public hospital and medical college. - **Bangur Institute of Neurosciences** — specialist neurological care in Kolkata. - **School of Tropical Medicine, Kolkata** — nationally known for infectious disease and tropical medicine. - **Chittaranjan National Cancer Institute** — important cancer care and research institution. - **North Bengal Medical College and Hospital, Darjeeling district** — major referral center for North Bengal. - **Bankura Sammilani Medical College**, **Burdwan Medical College**, **Midnapore Medical College**, **Malda Medical College**, **Murshidabad Medical College**, and other district medical colleges support regional care.
## Private healthcare Kolkata is also a center for private healthcare in eastern India, with large multispecialty hospitals such as: - **Apollo Multispecialty Hospitals, Kolkata** - **Fortis Hospital Anandapur** - **AMRI Hospitals** - **Peerless Hospital** - **Medica Superspecialty Hospital** - **Ruby General Hospital** - **Belle Vue Clinic** - **Tata Medical Center** — a prominent cancer hospital and research center in New Town.
## Primary care and public health - Primary Health Centers, rural hospitals, sub-divisional hospitals, and district hospitals form the backbone of public care outside Kolkata. - Urban and rural vaccination, maternal-child health, tuberculosis control, and infectious disease programs are run through the state health department and national schemes. - The state participates in public insurance and assistance programs including **Ayushman Bharat** and state-level health support mechanisms, though implementation details may vary.
## Mental health, specialty, and elder care - **Institute of Psychiatry, Kolkata** is a notable public mental health institution. - Mental health services are also available through major medical colleges and private hospitals. - Nursing homes are widespread in cities and towns, especially in Kolkata, Howrah, Durgapur, Siliguri, Asansol, and other urban centers.
## Pharmacies - Pharmacy access is broad in urban areas through chain and independent chemists. - Rural access varies by district, but basic medicines are commonly available near block hospitals and market towns.