The Chief Minister's Office of Maharashtra announced on Sunday, 26 July 2026 that Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Union Minister Nitin Gadkari attended the Maha Arogya Shivir (mega health camp) held in Nagpur, organised in coordination with the Chief Minister's Assistance Fund and the Charitable Hospital Help Cell, reaffirming the state's commitment to delivering expert healthcare to the last person in society.

What happened at the camp

The camp, conducted under the spirit of 'Seva hach aamcha dharma' ('Service is our religion'), brought specialist doctors together on a single platform. CM Fadnavis stated that 31,000 patients were screened at the event, and that arrangements have been made for those requiring further care. In the next phase, 5,000 patients needing interventions, operations, and procedures will receive treatment completely free of charge.

Fadnavis underlined the camp's core purpose: 'The aim of the Maha Arogya Shivir is to bring expert healthcare to the last person in society — under one roof, through government schemes, government hospitals, medical colleges, and charitable institutions working together.'

Policy backdrop

Maharashtra has combined the central government's Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY) and the state's Mahatma Jyotirao Phule Jan Arogya Yojana to extend universal health protection to 12 crore citizens of the state. The disease coverage under the combined scheme has been expanded from 1,200 to 2,300 ailments, with free treatment available up to Rs 5,00,000. The number of empanelled hospitals has also been tripled, bringing private and charitable hospitals into the network.

For approximately 10 critical illnesses that exceed the Rs 5 lakh ceiling, the state government provides additional support of up to Rs 9,00,000, and up to Rs 35,00,000 for select high-cost procedures, ensuring no patient is turned away due to financial constraints.

The Chief Minister's Assistance Fund has been expanded significantly. In the last one and a half years of the current term, the fund has provided assistance of Rs 452 crore to 5,700 patients. Charitable hospital bed availability, patient records, treatment details, and expenditure data have been brought onto a 100% digital platform, enabling real-time tracking and transparency.

Cochlear implants and child health

A notable announcement concerned children with hearing impairment. Cochlear implant surgeries, which cost between Rs 6,00,000 and Rs 10,00,000, will be performed entirely free of cost for children in need. CM Fadnavis stated the government is committed to eliminating deafness in the next generation: 'We can achieve 100 per cent victory over this problem.' Screening of children will be conducted in the next phase to identify every child requiring a cochlear implant.

Various diagnostic centres and institutions such as the NCI (National Cancer Institute) are already engaged in delivering quality healthcare to the poor, and the state intends to deepen these partnerships.

Stakeholders and what's next

The event was attended by Minister Chandrashekar Bawankule, Minister Mangalprabhat Lodha, MP Dr Ajit Gopchade, Nagpur Mayor Neeta Thakre, Deputy Mayor Leela Hathibe, Standing Committee Chairperson Shivani Dani-Wakhare, former MLA Sandeep Joshi, and other dignitaries.

The state's next steps include rolling out the free cochlear implant programme through systematic child screening, further expanding hospital empanelment, and deepening the digital integration of charitable hospital beds. Maharashtra's layered approach — combining central and state insurance, supplementary CM funds, and charitable hospital coordination — signals a sustained push toward eliminating financial barriers to healthcare across the state.