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Hospitals and pharmaceutical companies have hailed the Maharashtra government’s budget 2022-23 allocating Rs. 3,183 crore to improve healthcare infrastructure in the state.
Welcoming the budget, Raheel Shah, director, BDR Group of Companies, said “From the announcements made under the Maharashtra Budget 2022-23, the healthcare sector remained one of the mainstream focus areas for the state government. The announcement was centred around healthcare with a strong focus on welfare, education, research, and telemedicine. The deputy chief minister reflected support to the state with the infusion of Rs. 11,000 crore on healthcare services in the next three years that will strengthen the healthcare ecosystem in building state-of-the-art infrastructure, improve pharmaceutical R&D emphasizing on cancer to fight of novel and rare diseases, improve the accessibility of quality treatments and medicines in smaller cities and remote areas of the state. Investment in women’s hospitals has been a significant focus given preference to the growing women’s health issues and extends value to women and child welfare.”
“The allocation towards public health and family welfare has been critical to inculcate hygiene in the society and escalate the standard of living of the population at large in addition to support relief and rehabilitation across the state. In an effort to create skilled employment opportunities for the healthcare sector, medical education support will pave the way to increase competency and lower the medical personnel burden for the future. Overall, the policies presented were modelled to facilitate inclusive growth & development in the state,” said Shah.
Dr. Vivek Talaulikar, CEO, Global Hospital in Parel said “Maharashtra state budget has majorly focused on health and wellness which is a growth-oriented move by the government. Laying emphasis on health and mental wellness is a welcome move. The budget has shown attention to the healthcare sector, increasing the overall outlay to health and wellbeing. Telemedicine hospitals to be set up in every district, which will help to save a lot of lives to get out of the dark shadow of depression, stress and provide better access to quality health. Keeping in mind the progression of the tobacco epidemic in India, the government has also announced Mobile cancer diagnostic vans –this will not only make healthcare services accessible but also help in detecting cancer at early stages. However, there is a need to come up with long-term strategies and a roadmap to put in place a system to deal with future pandemics. Giving a boost to R&D for genome testing, sops that encourage people to have strong health insurance coverage and tax exemption under Section 80D.”
On March 11, Maharashtra finance minister and deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar, presented the Maharashtra Budget 2022 in the Assembly. The state government has allotted Rs. 100 crore for capital expenditure and Rs. 18 crore for recurring expenditure to set up first class trauma care units of 50 beds. 8 mobile cancer diagnosis vehicles, and around Rs. 8 crore has been dedicated for this project. Women's hospitals will be set up in all districts, like Hingoli, Yavatmal, Sangli, Satara, Dhule, Sindhudurg, and Raigad.
The finance minister announced that Indrayani Medicity will be established in 300 acres of land in Pune city, where all treatment methods will be available. A 365-bed Regional Psychiatric Hospital will open in Jalna, and the estimated cost of this project is Rs. 60 crore. Telemedicine centres will be set up in all district hospitals. Later, the service will be made available in sub-district hospitals. Lithotripsy treatment for removing kidney stones will be made available in rural hospitals, which house over 200 beds, in the next three years. A provision of Rs. 176 million has been made for the same.
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