Mumbai: Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has taken immediate action to address rising concerns regarding the state’s health system. In a virtual conference held on Thursday, CM Shinde directed all district collectors to personally assess the condition of government health establishments and submit reports on the ground situation in each district.
After attending important meetings in Delhi earlier in the day, CM Shinde convened a virtual meeting with district collectors and high-ranking officials from across the state to review the state of health services. During the meeting, he instructed all collectors to visit government hospitals, municipal hospitals, primary health centers (PHCs), medical colleges, and allied hospitals in their respective jurisdictions. They were also tasked with filing a status report and creating a schedule for regular visits to these institutions.
Moreover, CM Shinde announced the formation of a state-level committee to investigate the recent deaths at government hospitals in Nanded and Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar. He emphasized the importance of addressing issues related to health services and assured officials that the state government is actively working on short-term and long-term plans to strengthen the system. He also stressed that the availability of funds will not be a hindrance to implementing these plans.
To tackle the challenges faced by the health system, CM Shinde urged Divisional Commissioners, district collectors, hospital deans, and district surgeons to work together as a team. He emphasized the need for immediate fulfillment of demands for funds and additional equipment, and authorized recruitment of contractual employees at the district level in case of a shortage of human resources.
CM Shinde made it clear that any delay or negligence in providing quality healthcare would not be tolerated, and strict action would be taken against responsible officials. He also instructed health department officials to use the state-level dashboard for the procurement of medicines, which will simplify the process.
The meeting was attended by Chief Secretary Manoj Saunik, ACS (Health) Milind Mhaiskar, Principal Secretary (Medical Education) Dinesh Waghmare, and senior officials from both departments, along with district collectors.
In response to the situation, a Congress delegation led by opposition leader Vijay Wadettiwar met with Governor Ramesh Bais, urging him to intervene and address the issues caused by the state government. The delegation also reiterated their demand for the resignation of CM Shinde and Health Minister Sawant due to the deaths at a government hospital in Nanded.
The state government’s efforts to assess and address the challenges within the health system are crucial in ensuring the well-being of Maharashtra’s residents. By taking immediate action and conducting thorough investigations, they aim to strengthen the system and provide better healthcare services to the people.
