Maharashtra to Fund Organ Transplants for Needy Patients Beyond Scheme Limits
Maharashtra Health Minister Prakash Abitkar has directed officials to provide financial assistance from the state's corpus fund for organ transplant surgeries of poor and needy patients when the expenses exceed the coverage provided under government health schemes.
The directive was issued during a meeting held at Mantralaya in Mumbai between officials of the Public Health and Family Welfare Department and representatives of Pune's Ruby Hall Clinic, chaired by Abitkar to discuss expanding access to advanced healthcare facilities for the public.
Abitkar stated that providing additional financial aid from the corpus fund would strengthen the state’s organ donation and transplantation drive while ensuring that underprivileged patients are not deprived of critical, advanced medical treatments due to financial constraints.
The meeting focused on expanding cardiac and cancer care under the integrated Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Jan Arogya Yojana and Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana at empanelled private facilities such as Ruby Hall Clinic. Abitkar instructed department officials to boost coordination between private healthcare institutions and government welfare schemes to improve service quality for beneficiaries.
Officials also discussed plans to set up a well-equipped diagnostic centre through Ruby Hall Clinic at Gargoti in Kolhapur district. The proposed Gargoti facility is planned to offer diagnostic tests including CT scans, X-rays, ECG, 2-D Echo, and USG at affordable rates, serving patients across western Maharashtra, rural regions, and neighbouring areas of Goa and Karnataka to reduce the need for travel to Pune or Mumbai.
Additionally, discussions covered setting up an advanced proton therapy facility for cancer treatment in Pune at a lower cost through collaboration between the state Health Department and Ruby Hall Clinic. Proton therapy in Maharashtra is currently accessible only in Mumbai, limiting treatment availability for cancer patients across other parts of the state.
