State launches ‘Vision 2035’ to overhaul public health system

Maharashtra government plans to build 25 new hospitals in districts to strengthen public health system, fill 19,695 vacancies, and improve medical supply procurement. This comes after 38 patients died due to staff shortages and inadequate supplies at a hospital in Nanded. District collectors will be responsible for purchasing medical supplies.

25 new hospitals in districts, collectors to work as CEOs to procure medical supply, 19,695 vacancies to be filled soon

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The fractured state of Maharashtra’s public health system came to the fore after 38 patients died in 72 hours at Dr Shankarrao Chavan Government Medical College and Hospital, in Nanded, last week. Paucity of staff and inadequate medical supplies, reportedly led to the deaths. The hospital was also overcrowded with patients at the time. In this backdrop and following a public outcry, the state government on Monday ordered an overhaul of the system under a programme titled ‘Vision 2035.’

In a meeting held in Mantralaya, chief minister Eknath Shinde asked officials of the public health department to come up with a plan in 15 days to build government hospitals in 25 districts. He also told the administration to complete the process of procuring medicines and fill up vacancies in all hospitals immediately.

A presentation made by the public health department underlined that of 34 district hospitals it runs, the department has handed over 13 to be aligned with respective medical colleges. 12 district hospitals will be aligned with upcoming medical colleges in various districts. That leaves only nine independent government hospitals in the districts; hence the department expressed the need for new hospitals to strengthen the state’s healthcare. After hearing the officials, the CM directed the department to prepare a plan for new state-of-the-art hospitals in 25 districts. Additionally, Shinde also ordered that 14 existing hospitals exclusively for women – called Stree Rugnalaya – be strengthened.

There are 19,695 vacancies – across hierarchies, including class 4 staff – at the hospitals. The CM asked the department to fill the positions by next month. He has also directed the department to immediately appoint an IAS officer as the chief executive officer of the Maharashtra Medical Procurement Authority, after the Bombay high court recently rapped the government for its failure to appoint the CEO which could affect the procurement of medicines for government hospitals.

Deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar, who had attended the meeting, stressed the district collectors will be held responsible for purchase of medical supply. “State government has given all powers to collectors for the purchases. They need to speed up the process and will be held responsible for any delay or inadequate supply,” said Pawar.

Deputy chief minister Devendra Fadnavis however expressed concern over the non-utilisation of funds available for public health and suggested telemedicine facilities be introduced to treat patients in remote areas. Shinde said the funds should be utilised by March 31, 2024.

After the meeting, Shinde said, “Apart from 25 hospitals in various districts, plans are afoot to increase the capacity of government hospitals. This will be done parallelly with setting up medical colleges in that area. This will reduce the burden of patients on one facility.”