Pune: RTI Reveals Only Four PMC Hospitals Enrolled In Mahatma Phule Health Scheme
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Pune, February 4, 2026: A demand has been raised urging the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) to immediately register all its hospitals, including those operated under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model, under the Maharashtra government’s Mahatma Phule Jan Arogya Yojana (MJPJAY) to reduce financial burden on the civic body and ensure free treatment for patients.
The Mahatma Phule Jan Arogya Yojana offers cashless medical treatment of up to ₹5 lakh to eligible beneficiaries across Maharashtra. However, the benefits are available only at hospitals registered under the scheme, limiting access for patients when hospitals fail to enrol.
The information was released under RTI sought by Pune based Vivek Velankar.
According to a memorandum submitted to the Municipal Commissioner, registering PMC-owned and PPP-operated hospitals under the scheme would significantly cut treatment costs currently borne by the PMC’s budget.
Information obtained through the Right to Information (RTI) Act has revealed that of the 19 PMC-run hospitals and maternity homes, only four—Dr Dalvi Hospital, Sonawane Maternity Home, Rajiv Gandhi Hospital, and Kamala Nehru Hospital—are registered under the Mahatma Phule Jan Arogya Yojana. In addition, Late Dashrath Baliba Bhangire Hospital in Mohamadwadi, operated under the PPP model, is yet to be registered.
Giving more details about the registration of the hospitals under the scheme, Dr Suryakant Deokar, assistant medical health officer told Pune Pulse that PMC has asked all its hospitals to get themselves registered under the scheme. This applies to all the OPD clinics, PPP run hospitals too. The patients must get the benefit under the scheme.
Speaking to Pune Pulse former PMC corporator Pramod Nana Bhangire stated that he shall seek information from the authorities and ensure that the hospital gets itself registered under the scheme which is meant for the public.
Due to this limited registration, patients are unable to avail benefits under the state government’s health scheme, forcing the PMC to fund medical treatments directly, resulting in substantial and avoidable expenditure.
The representation calls upon the Municipal Commissioner to issue immediate directions for the registration of all remaining PMC hospitals and the PPP-operated Bhangire Hospital under the Mahatma Phule scheme. It is stated that such a move could help save crores of rupees annually from the civic body’s budget.
The letter also seeks a two-year audit to verify whether PPP hospitals already registered under the Mahatma Phule Jan Arogya Yojana have received payments from the PMC’s Urban Poor Health Scheme, which would amount to a violation of existing norms.
The appeal has been made by Vivek Velankar, President, Sajag Nagrik Manch, Pune, calling for swift administrative action in the interest of patients and public funds.
