Maharashtra Expands Healthcare Access with 900 Additional Hospitals
Maharashtra Expands Healthcare Access with 900 Additional Hospitals
Enhanced Coverage and Services under State’s Universal Healthcare Initiative
June 17, 2024
Maharashtra’s drive towards universal healthcare has led to an expansion in both coverage and medical services, increasing the number of covered procedures from 996 to 1,356 and the total hospitals participating from 1,000 to 1,900. Ramesh Chavan, CEO of the State Health Assurance Society (SHAS), implementing MJPJAY, highlighted the scheme’s rising popularity.
Over the past five years, surgeries under MJPJAY have surged by 70%, from 6.03 lakh in 2019-20 to 10.25 lakh in 2023-24. “We are actively encouraging reputed hospitals to join, with procedural rates now increased by 15-20%,” Chavan stated. Since its inception, MJPJAY has facilitated over 65 lakh surgeries, with high demand for cancer treatments, cardiac care, kidney procedures, paediatrics, and polytrauma treatments.
In a bid to broaden its footprint, SHAS is reviewing approximately 1,600 applications for 900 newly available hospital slots. “Half of these slots will be allocated to public hospitals,” confirmed an official. In Mumbai, where 57 hospitals are presently enrolled, several more, including SevenHills Hospital, have applied for empanelment, although prestigious charitable hospitals have yet to participate.
A senior advocate for public health expressed optimism about the scheme’s expansion but emphasized the need for stronger oversight. “The state must ensure that beneficiaries are not subjected to unauthorized charges, a problem still prevalent in some hospitals. There is also a pressing need for greater outreach in underserved districts,” the advocate noted. Maharashtra joins Karnataka, Tripura, and Meghalaya in implementing comprehensive healthcare reforms.
Chavan also outlined plans to engage a third-party agency to monitor service utilization rigorously, identify specialties facing high demand, and prevent misuse of the scheme, leveraging advanced AI and data analytics. Alongside MJPJAY, Maharashtra integrates Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY), extending coverage to 83 lakh families identified through the Socio-Economic Caste Census 2011 (SECC 2011).
