Is the Maha Govt Really Setting Up a ‘Health War Room’ to Integrate Schemes?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Maharashtra's government is establishing a health war room.
- The initiative aims to integrate health schemes to avoid duplicate benefits.
- A dedicated toll-free number will be available for health assistance.
- The war room will involve multiple government departments.
- MITRA CEO Praveen Pardeshi will oversee health initiatives.
Mumbai, Oct 17 (NationPress) The Maharashtra government has announced plans to establish a dedicated war room aimed at integrating all health-related initiatives launched by both the central and state governments.
This initiative seeks to prevent individuals from receiving duplicate benefits from various schemes. It will be led by the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Maharashtra Institution for Transformation (MITRA). The war room will specifically focus on addressing health-related concerns.
The committee, consisting of 12 members under the MITRA CEO, will include administrative leaders from the Public Health, Medical Education, Social Justice, Women and Child Welfare, Law and Judiciary, Labour, Tribal Development, Minority Development, and Divyang Welfare departments.
In addition, the head of the Chief Minister's Relief Fund cell and an assistant director will also be part of the committee.
Sources from the state government indicated that within the Public Health department, the Chief Minister has mandated the creation of a dedicated war room for health-related matters.
“There are numerous health welfare initiatives launched by both central and state governments. We have seen cases where individuals availed benefits from both schemes, which is not allowed. Therefore, the objective is to streamline these initiatives by integrating them,” stated an official from the Public Health department.
A toll-free number, 18001232211, will serve as a common contact point for all health-related assistance.
The state already operates a war room to oversee ongoing infrastructure projects, industrial initiatives, and various social sector programs.
The MITRA CEO, former IAS officer Praveen Pardeshi, has also been appointed as the Chief Economic Advisor (CEA) to Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. Pardeshi, who co-chairs the governing committee responsible for the Maharashtra data policy, will now also supervise health-related schemes.
MITRA was founded in alignment with NITI Aayog during the leadership of Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, aiming for swift and comprehensive state development through private sector and NGO participation, while considering the state's needs.