Mumbai: Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Monday directed officials to prioritise quality and speed in the implementation of healthcare projects and ensure construction of critical care blocks and integrated public health laboratories are completed within the stipulated time.
The mindset of treating healthcare as a low-priority sector needed to change. Government hospitals should be known for quality, cleanliness and effective branding so that citizens’ perception that these medical facilities are unhygienic or substandard is transformed, he stressed.
Reviewing health-related schemes at the Chief Minister’s War Room, set up to monitor social sector projects, Fadnavis said the state government was committed to providing citizens with accessible and high-quality healthcare services through effective implementation of central and state-sponsored programmes.
The meeting reviewed the progress of the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana, strengthening of health infrastructure under the 15th Finance Commission, the Pradhan Mantri Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission, establishment of new medical colleges and the HPV vaccination campaign.
The CM informed that his government had studied healthcare systems in states such as Tamil Nadu and prepared a dedicated action plan for Maharashtra.
He stressed that funds received from the Centre should be utilised within the prescribed deadlines and asked district collectors to personally monitor the construction of Ayushman Arogya Mandirs (temples of health), critical care blocks and integrated public health laboratories.
The CM maintained that while some projects had initially been delayed, district performance had improved and all districts should now focus on completing the works within the agreed schedule.
Departments should adopt a positive approach and ensure there is no lack of coordination in resolving pending issues, he insisted.
Citing improvements made at a primary health centre (PHC) in Pune, Fadnavis said similar successful initiatives should be replicated across the state.
He directed officials to remove obstacles in the construction of 13 new medical colleges and insisted that commitments made in the meeting would be reviewed in the next War Room session.
The CM asked officials not to allow problems to remain pending and to escalate unresolved matters to department heads, secretaries, the chief secretary, ministers or the chief minister if necessary.
The meeting also reviewed the HPV vaccination campaign launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to prevent cervical cancer.
Maharashtra has been given a target of vaccinating nearly 10 lakh girls, and Fadnavis directed officials to obtain parental consent, conduct extensive awareness drives and achieve the goal within the stipulated time.
Speaking at the meeting, Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde said Ayushman Arogya Mandirs and medical college projects were being accelerated and would soon be available for people’s use.
He noted the upgradation of primary health centres would improve healthcare services in both urban and rural areas, while new medical colleges would help increase trained manpower in the sector.
Medical Education Minister Hasan Mushrif said certain Public Works Department norms were creating hurdles in hospital construction and suggested that necessary changes be approved so that projects are not delayed.
He noted that some completed projects were still awaiting basic facilities such as drinking water and roads.
Health Minister Prakash Abitkar said 55 PHCs in the state had been upgraded with improved infrastructure, branding and modern facilities.
He said 1,141 urban Ayushman Arogya Mandirs were operational in municipal corporation areas and 797 in municipal council areas. These centres have so far provided outpatient services to 43 lakh patients in municipal corporation areas and 46 lakh patients in municipal council areas.
Under the Pradhan Mantri Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission, Maharashtra has received approval for 36 critical care blocks and work on all of them is underway, Abitkar said.
Of the 36 integrated public health laboratories planned in the state, 22 have been completed, four are under construction and work on the remaining is being expedited, he added. PTI
