Eknath Shinde Orders Strict Standards for Cleanliness and Food in State Hospitals
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Tuesday directed the Public Health Department to ensure that cleanliness, the quality of food served to patients, and the standard of medicines in government hospitals are strictly maintained without compromise. Shinde issued the instructions during a departmental review meeting held at Mantralaya, where Public Health Minister Prakash Abitkar presented an overview of ongoing health initiatives.
During the meeting, Shinde instructed officials to expedite incomplete hospital and health centre projects to ensure rural residents can access healthcare closer to home. He noted that meals for patients are supplied through women’s self-help groups and stressed the necessity of strict monitoring. He warned that officials must take firm action against anyone failing to maintain prescribed hygiene and service standards.
Shinde also called for the deployment of specialist medical services in rural hospitals so that patients do not need to travel to cities for routine consultations. He directed officials to better utilise Employees' State Insurance scheme hospitals and instructed the department to coordinate with the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board to operationalise required sewage treatment facilities and manage biomedical waste across state hospitals.
Department officials reported that work on 666 hospitals, health centres, and health institutions is currently underway with an allocation of ₹1,590 crore. Funding is also being pursued from the New Development Bank, NABARD, and the Asian Development Bank. To upgrade emergency response infrastructure, 1,756 new ambulances are being added to the 108 emergency ambulance network, with 350 vehicles rolling out in the initial phase.
Addressing staffing shortages, the government has approved supernumerary posts for 15,010 contractual employees who have completed at least 10 years of service under the National Health Mission. Recruitment for 1,440 vacant medical officer posts is in its final stages, with new in-service postgraduate medical recruits set to be assigned to tribal areas first to fill regional gaps.
Officials noted that screening initiatives have reached millions across the state, including over two crore women screened for cancer, hypertension, and diabetes, alongside ongoing diagnostic drives for sickle cell disease and thalassemia.
