104 Private Hospitals Added to Government Health Schemes in Just Six Months
104 Private Hospitals Added to Government Health Schemes in Just Six Months
In a major boost to public healthcare access, Pune district has seen a rapid increase in the number of private hospitals joining state and central health insurance schemes. Within just six months, 104 private hospitals have been empanelled under Maharashtra’s Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Jan Arogya Yojana (MJPJAY) and the central Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY), according to local health authorities.
This surge follows a special initiative launched in January by the state’s Public Health Department, aimed at expanding the hospital network under both flagship schemes. Thanks to this drive, the number of empanelled hospitals in Pune district has jumped from 98 to 202 in a short span, making quality treatment more accessible to the public.
The MJPJAY, initially introduced in 2012, underwent a major overhaul in 2023. It was made universal, and its insurance coverage was raised from ₹1.5 lakh to ₹5 lakh per family annually. Similarly, PM-JAY offers up to ₹5 lakh per family per year, allowing beneficiaries to receive cashless treatment for a wide range of medical conditions.
Statewide, there are now 1,359 private and 672 government hospitals enrolled in both schemes. These facilities collectively offer 1,352 different health procedures under cashless or free treatment models.
District coordinator for MJPJAY and PM-JAY, Dr. Priti Lokhande, shared that the new additions include a mix of private hospitals and teaching hospitals with capacities ranging from 30 to 200 beds. “With more hospitals on board, patients in rural and semi-urban parts of the district will have better access to both emergency and specialised medical care,” she said. “We also have 25 more hospitals currently going through the empanelment process.”
Meanwhile, Dr. Nagnath Yempalle, Pune’s civil surgeon, emphasised the importance of these schemes for financially vulnerable families. “Through these health programmes, patients can undergo treatments and surgeries without worrying about the expenses,” he said. “Our goal is to continue expanding the list of empanelled hospitals, giving people more treatment options closer to home.”
However, not all healthcare institutions are on board. Charitable hospitals in the city have shown resistance to joining these schemes. A Government Resolution (GR) issued on April 21 made it mandatory for charitable hospitals to participate in MJPJAY and PM-JAY. In response, the Association of Hospitals (AOH) in Pune filed a writ petition in the Bombay High Court, arguing that the decision poses financial and operational challenges for their institutions.
