Kolhapur: In a major expansion of Maharashtra’s public healthcare infrastructure, state cabinet on Tuesday approved the PRAGATI initiative, under which 1,600 new hospital beds will be added across five districts over the next five years at an estimated cost of Rs 4,250 crore.
The project, titled ‘Primary Healthcare Reimagined with Advanced Governance and Accessible Technology Integration (PRAGATI)’, will see the construction of two 500-bed district hospitals in Kolhapur and Nanded, a 200-bed Regional Referral Hospital in Pune, and the upgradation of existing district hospitals in Latur and Nagpur into 200-bed facilities.
State health minister Prakash Abitkar said the initiative would significantly strengthen the state’s capacity to provide advanced treatment, particularly for non-communicable diseases.
“The project places special priority on the prevention, screening, diagnosis, and treatment of non-communicable diseases (NCDs). Facilities for diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, chronic kidney disease (CKD), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), stroke, mental health, diabetic retinopathy, fatty liver, palliative care, and hospice services will be expanded,” said Abitkar.
The minister said the project would also strengthen screening and diagnostic services for breast, cervical and oral cancers while building manpower and technological capacity for early detection and treatment.
“Alongside clinical care, strong emphasis will be placed on screening, counseling, public awareness, Behavior Change Communication (BCC), and capacity building for healthcare workers. Screening and diagnostic facilities for breast, cervical, and oral cancers will also be strengthened, alongside deploying necessary technology and trained workforce for early cancer detection and treatment through PRAGATI,” he added.
The state plans to implement the project between 2026 and 2031. Around 70% of the funding will be raised through loans from the Asian Development Bank, while the remaining 30% will be contributed by state govt.
Beyond physical infrastructure, PRAGATI will also drive the digital transformation of Maharashtra’s healthcare system through the Maharashtra Health Technology Mission.
“We are going to expand digital health records, integrate health information systems, scale up telemedicine, and implement various tech driven healthcare services. This will bring health care closer to citizens, and ensure coordination,” Abitkar said.
Officials said the project aims to improve access to specialised healthcare services, reduce pressure on existing hospitals and strengthen early diagnosis and treatment across the state.
