The Maharashtra govt has declared that starting from August 15, all 2,418 public hospitals in the region will offer free treatment and screening tests. This announcement comes as part of an initiative to make healthcare services more affordable and accessible for citizens. If any hospital attempts to charge fees for treatment, citizens are encouraged to report the matter through the toll-free number 104.

Initially, Health Minister Tanaji Sawant on August 3, shared the decision. Over the weekend, the government issued a general resolution to further clarify the scope of this initiative. According to the solution, services including registration at the outpatient department (OPD), lab tests, and screenings like ECG, X-ray, and CT scans will be provided free of charge in Maharashtra. When a medication is unavailable, hospitals are expected to procure it locally and provide it to the patient for free. Additionally, during the discharge process, indoor patients should not incur any charges.

A significant number of individuals, approximately 25.5 million people, seek medical assistance from public hospitals in Maharashtra. This new policy aims to lower the financial burden on these patients. However, this policy won't extend to hospitals and medical colleges under the medical education department.

Dr. Radhakishan Pawar, Deputy Director of Health Services, said that officials have been instructed to implement free treatment at district hospitals, rural hospitals, and primary healthcare centers. Patients are required to carry a government-issued identification card for registration.

According to data from the public health department, the Pune region, encompassing Pune, Satara, and Solapur districts, currently faces a shortage of specialized doctors and medical officers. A substantial number of approved positions remain vacant, particularly those for expert roles like ophthalmologists, gynaecologists, psychiatrists, and dermatologists. Additionally, out of the total approved medical officer positions, more than half remain unfilled. This scarcity of medical professionals leads to inconvenience for patients and negatively impacts the quality of care provided.0

However, despite this positive step towards affordable healthcare, it's essential to acknowledge that many public hospitals in Maharashtra face challenges in terms of infrastructure and resources. These hospitals often lack proper hygiene, modern technology, and sufficient staff, including specialist doctors and emergency personnel. This has led to compromised communication between staff and patients, resulting in inferior service quality.

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