The Maharashtra state government under its “Master Plan of Health Institutions” will be starting as many as 1,257 hospitals across the state over the next five years, the chief minister announced in a public meeting in Jalgaon on Sunday.
In addition to the 1,257 new hospitals that will come in a phased manner, the state government will also upgrade 55 existing hospitals.
“It is a long-term expansion plan of the health infrastructure in the state. A budget to the tune of `2,000-2,500 crore has been allocated for the expansion and it will be done over a period of five years,” said state health minister Suresh Shetty.
Under the fiver yearlong project, 34 sub-district hospitals (SDH) with the capacity of 30 beds will be upgraded to 50 beds, 5 SDH will be turned into a 100-bedded hospitals, and Manor SDH will be upgraded to a 200 bedded hospital.
In 1997, the Maharashtra government had proposed to set up 107 primary health centres (PHC) but it never saw fruition, which, however, has been incorporated in the master plan with an addition of 147 more PHC, taking the total PHCs to 254.
The state government also seems to be addressing the healthcare needs of women and children with as many as 15 new hospitals proposed in the plan. And women’s hospitals in Parbhani, which is currently a 60-bedded hospital, will be upgraded to a 100-bedded hospital, while the women’s hospital in Baramati will be turned into a 200-bedded hospital from 100 beds.
“While the primary aim of the plan is certainly the expansion of the health infrastructure in the state, we must understand that we will also require human resources in proportion to keep these facilities running,” said an official from the health department. Under the plan, 3,058 multipurpose workers (MPW) and 3,579 auxiliary nurse midwife (ANM) will be added in the existing sub-centres. In the PHCs, there will be an addition of 1,072 female health workers, 210 medical officers and 91 lab technicians.