Pragati
State Initiative to Enhance Healthcare Services
State officials announced a new initiative designed to enhance healthcare services across primary, secondary, and tertiary levels. The plan focuses on improving infrastructure, integrating digital technologies, and promoting disease prevention and early diagnosis. Additionally, it aims to reduce out-of-pocket healthcare expenses for patients.
Pragati will prioritise hypertension, heart disease, stroke, chronic respiratory and kidney diseases, diabetes, childhood illnesses, cancer, mental health conditions and palliative care, according to the GR. A key focus will be the prevention, screening and early detection of non-communicable diseases (NCDs). Primary health centres, Ayushman Arogya Mandirs, urban health centres and higher-level facilities will be equipped with essential staff, medicines, diagnostics and medical equipment. An integrated referral and return-linkage system will ensure patients identified at the primary level are promptly referred for specialised treatment and receive follow-up care closer to home. Healthcare facilities will be upgraded with diagnostic equipment and trained personnel, while uninterrupted supplies of medicines and diagnostics will be ensured. Capacity-building programmes will also be conducted for medical officers, community health officers and other healthcare staff. The project will strengthen Maharashtra Health Technology Mission and build a digital health ecosystem aligned with Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission. Proposed services include online patient registration, outpatient and inpatient management, digital laboratory reports, e-prescriptions, medicine dispensing, referral and counter-referral services, discharge summaries, and electronic and personal health records. Pragati will also leverage artificial intelligence, telemedicine, advanced diagnostics and innovative treatment technologies to improve access to quality healthcare. Alongside service delivery, the initiative will promote preventive healthcare through social and behaviour change communication campaigns encouraging healthier lifestyles, including avoiding tobacco and alcohol, regular exercise, balanced diets and routine screening for hypertension, diabetes and cancer. Govt expects the initiative to lower healthcare costs through early diagnosis and timely treatment, particularly for NCDs and cancer, while building a skilled healthcare workforce capable of delivering expanded services across Maharashtra.