Shinde Announces Plan to Establish Super-Specialty Hospitals in 34 Districts

Mumbai, October 10th

In a significant move towards a comprehensive overhaul of the state’s healthcare system, Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has issued orders to double the expenditure on public health. He has also called for the establishment of specialty hospitals equipped with all necessary facilities in every district and urgent measures to fortify healthcare services in rural areas.

During a review meeting held on Monday at the state secretariat to assess the state’s public health system, Chief Minister Shinde instructed a committee of secretaries to devise a plan for establishing district hospitals with full-fledged facilities across all 34 districts within the next 15 days. Additionally, he emphasized the creation of new medical colleges.

Furthermore, Chief Minister Shinde has directed the formation of a committee comprising experts tasked with crafting a comprehensive healthcare vision for the state, encompassing health and medical education, to be realized by the year 2035.

In his directives to district collectors, Chief Minister Shinde stressed the importance of procuring medicines and medical equipment through District Planning, emphasizing the separate pricing of life-saving and essential medicines. He underscored the need to ensure that hospitals in all districts have a consistent supply of medicines to address any complaints of shortages.

Acknowledging that 13 district hospitals have been closed due to their affiliation with medical colleges and that 12 district hospitals are scheduled to be transferred to the Medical Education Department, Chief Minister Shinde called for the construction of new, state-of-the-art district hospitals with comprehensive facilities in 25 districts. He also urged the upgrade of district hospitals currently associated with medical colleges. A special committee, consisting of the additional chief secretary of the Public Health Department, the additional chief secretary of the Finance Department, and the secretary of Medical Education, was tasked with formulating this plan within the next 15 days.

Furthermore, Chief Minister Shinde stressed the importance of equipping district hospitals with the necessary facilities to perform major surgeries. He also called for the strengthening of women’s hospitals in 14 districts.

Additionally, the Chief Minister ordered the immediate appointment of a chief executive officer for the Maharashtra Medical Goods Procurement Authority, along with eight other positions within the organization.

Chief Minister Shinde emphasized the need for district collectors to promptly initiate the recruitment process for technical positions in the Health Department within their respective districts.

Lastly, he instructed the administration to address issues related to malaria and dengue mosquitoes, organize blood donation camps, visit blood banks, and raise public awareness on healthcare matters.