This is a detailed compliance audit of healthcare services in three selected district hospitals in West Bengal for the five year period 2014-15 to 2018-19 (with observations on crucial aspects updated in 2019-20 and 2020-21). Apart from these three DHs, audit examination also encompassed records maintained at the H&FW Department and Directorate of Health Services (DHS), State Project Management Unit (SPMU) of NHM, Chief Medical Officers Health (CMOsH) of three Districts (Dakshin Dinajpur, Birbhum and Jhargram). Apart from assessing the level of compliance in district hospitals in providing health care service in a district to uniform standards introduced by Indian Public Health Standards (IPHS), comparison has also been made with some other relevant guidelines/ frameworks.

The main objectives of this Detailed Compliance Audit were to assess whether comprehensive plans and strategies regarding the District Hospitals (DHs) have been developed and aligned with overall State Health Policy, if any, and health care requirements at the District level. Audit also aimed to ascertain whether provisions for line services (such as Out-Patient Department (OPD), In-Patient Department (IPD), Intensive Care Unit (ICU), Operation Theater (OT), maternity services, etc.) as well as support & auxiliary services (viz., diagnostic, diet, bio-medical waste management, etc.) conformed to standards envisaged by Indian Public Health Standards (IPHS). Audit also attempted to assess whether availability and management of resources of the District Hospitals (viz., drug, equipment, manpower, etc.) was in consonance with the relevant norms and standards.