Swasthya Sathi card PDF compress: upload tips and the Ayushman switch

If a form asks you to attach your Swasthya Sathi card, scan both sides flat into one PDF, compress it below the limit shown on that upload screen and check that the card number and names are still readable. The card itself is not applied for by uploading a PDF, and in 2026 West Bengal is moving Swasthya Sathi families to Ayushman Bharat.

Swasthya Sathi is West Bengal's state health assurance scheme. This guide explains where a copy of the card is still useful, what the 2026 switch to Ayushman Bharat means for cardholders, and how to make a clean, small PDF of the card when someone asks for one.

Key takeaways

• The official Swasthya Sathi site describes cover of up to Rs 5 lakh per family per year for secondary and tertiary care, with the full cost borne by the state.
• The smart card is issued at enrolment and records family details, photographs and biometrics. It is not something you apply for by uploading files.
• West Bengal launched Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY on 16 August 2026, and reports say Swasthya Sathi runs alongside it for a few months before being phased out.
• A Finance Department order dated 9 October 2026 tells employees and pensioners in the West Bengal Health Scheme to surrender any Swasthya Sathi or Ayushman Bharat card by 31 October 2026.
• No single upload limit applies to card scans. Follow the limit on the form you are filling in.

What Swasthya Sathi covers

Swasthya Sathi is a cashless health scheme in which the West Bengal government pays the full premium. The official Swasthya Sathi website describes basic cover of up to Rs 5 lakh per family per year for secondary and tertiary care. It covers pre-existing diseases and puts no cap on family size. A smart card is issued on the day of enrolment and stores family details, photographs, biometrics, address and mobile number. The site lists a toll-free helpline, 18003455384, and a separate login for card-related services.

Because enrolment captures photographs and biometrics in person, the card is not something you create by uploading a PDF. A PDF copy is useful when another application, an employer or a hospital desk asks for proof that your family is enrolled.

The 2026 move to Ayushman Bharat

West Bengal is bringing Swasthya Sathi families into Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY, and the old card is being phased out in stages. Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari announced in May 2026 that Ayushman Bharat would start in the state and that Swasthya Sathi beneficiaries would be incorporated into it, as News On AIR reported.

Outlook Money reported on 15 August 2026 that PM-JAY would launch on 16 August 2026, together with a state scheme for residents who do not qualify for PM-JAY. According to that report, Swasthya Sathi runs alongside the new schemes for two to three months and is withdrawn only after a 60-day review. Ayushman cards are issued free, and hospitals may ask for the Ayushman card, the ABHA card and Aadhaar.

WBHS members must surrender their cards

A Finance Department (Medical Cell) order, No. 92-F(MED)WB dated 9 October 2026 and republished by WBXPRESS, applies to employees and pensioners enrolled in the West Bengal Health Scheme. Anyone in that group who holds a Swasthya Sathi or Ayushman Bharat card must surrender it and submit an Annexure-A declaration with proof of surrender by 31 October 2026. Employees submit to their Head of Office, and pensioners submit to the office that handles their WBHS claims. The order warns that not complying can lead to suspension of WBHS benefits and, for employees, disciplinary action. If your office accepts the declaration and proof by email or on a portal, a compressed PDF keeps the attachment small.

How to make a small, readable PDF of your card

1. Scan both sides. Place the card on a dark, plain surface in daylight and photograph it straight on. Avoid flash glare on the printed numbers.
2. Combine into one file. Put the front and back into one PDF with JPG to PDF, or capture and crop in the browser with Scan to PDF.
3. Compress to the form's limit. The Swasthya Sathi PDF compressor opens Siliph's Compress PDF tool with a 200 KB target already set. If the form shows a different limit, enter that number as the target in Compress PDF.
4. Check it. Confirm the size in your file manager and zoom in on the card number, names and photo. If anything is blurred, compress the original again with a gentler setting.
5. Keep the original. Store the uncompressed scan as well, because you may need a sharper copy later.

Compress PDF runs on Siliph's servers: files travel over an encrypted connection, are processed automatically and are deleted within 2 hours. No account is needed.

Fixing common upload problems

The file is still too big

Crop away the background, lower the target size a step and compress the original again. A black-and-white copy made with PDF to Grayscale is usually smaller too. It turns pages into images, so convert first and compress afterwards.

The upload field rejects the file type

Check whether the field wants a PDF or an image. iPhone photos are often saved as HEIC, which an upload field may not accept, so convert them to PDF first.

The text is unreadable after compression

Retake the photo in better light rather than compressing harder. An unreadable copy is likely to be sent back, which costs more time than a slightly larger file.

Frequently asked questions

Is Swasthya Sathi still valid in 2026?

Reports from August 2026 say Swasthya Sathi runs alongside Ayushman Bharat for two to three months before a phased withdrawal, so check with your hospital or the state health department for the current position.

Can I apply for a Swasthya Sathi card online by uploading documents?

The official site describes a smart card issued at enrolment that records photographs and biometrics, so a card is not created by uploading PDFs. For new cover in 2026, ask about Ayushman Bharat enrolment instead.

What is the PDF size limit for uploading a Swasthya Sathi card?

There is no single limit. Each portal or office sets its own, so follow the figure shown on the form and compress to a little below it.

Do WBHS pensioners need to give up their Swasthya Sathi card?

Yes. A Finance Department order dated 9 October 2026 requires WBHS employees and pensioners holding a Swasthya Sathi or Ayushman Bharat card to surrender it and file a declaration by 31 October 2026.

Sources

• Government of West Bengal: Swasthya Sathi official website
• News On AIR: Ayushman Bharat scheme to be rolled out in West Bengal, Swasthya Sathi beneficiaries to be included
• Outlook Money: Ayushman Bharat scheme to roll out in West Bengal from August 16
• WBXPRESS: Mandatory surrender of Swasthya Sathi / Ayushman Bharat card (order 92-F(MED)WB dated 09.10.2026)