Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis announced that the Maharashtra government will establish a corpus fund to cover organ transplants and other medical treatments exceeding Rs 5 lakh. This initiative aims to expand the reach of existing health insurance schemes.
During a meeting of the State Health Assurance Society’s governing council, Fadnavis emphasized the need for a comprehensive policy to provide inclusive cancer treatment across the state. He directed the state medical education and drugs department to develop this policy, stressing the importance of establishing multi-level cancer treatment centers for effective implementation.
A significant approval from the CM includes the expansion of procedures covered under the unified Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Aarogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) and Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Jan Aarogya Yojana (MJPJAY), increasing the number from 1,356 to 2,399. The new fund will specifically cover nine high-cost treatments, such as heart, lung, kidney, and bone marrow transplants.
To improve accessibility, Fadnavis instructed officials to map empanelled hospitals by taluka and ensure that patients in underserved areas can access the scheme. He also mentioned that private hospitals would be encouraged to set up 30-bed facilities in these regions.
In a move to enhance patient support, the Chief Minister requested the health department to increase the number of ‘Aarogya Mitras’ in rural areas and to develop an AI-based mobile app with chatbot support. This app will provide information on hospitals, treatments, and scheme benefits.
Other decisions from the meeting include the inclusion of 25 primary health center-level treatments, coverage for all rural and urban PHCs, and standardization of treatment rates. Hospitals will now be incentivized based on quality certifications, aligning with the National Health Authority’s policy.
Fadnavis expressed the state’s ambition to implement these schemes with greater transparency and efficiency, aiming for Maharashtra to rank among the top three states in health scheme performance nationally.
Furthermore, he directed the immediate resumption of construction for the Sant Tukdoji Maharaj Cancer Hospital in Nagpur, with necessary funds to be made available. An official release also stated that Shri Saibaba Sansthan would be asked to establish a state-of-the-art cancer hospital at Sainagar, Shirdi.
Finally, Fadnavis stressed the importance of timely treatment for needy patients. He called for the creation of a single cloud command center for L3-level (tertiary) care, and emphasized making early diagnosis facilities and effective treatment methods accessible to cancer patients. He also instructed officials to ensure that every district has integrated cancer care services, including diagnostic facilities, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy units.
