Approval for Creation of 186 Charitable Health Worker Posts in Charitable Hospitals

Mumbai : A scheme is currently in place to provide free and subsidized medical treatment to patients from poor and vulnerable sections in charitable hospitals. To ensure that patients receive timely assistance and accurate information about this scheme, the state government has decided to appoint 186 Charitable Health Workers across these hospitals. This decision, made under the direction of Deputy Chief Minister and Law and Justice Minister Devendra Fadnavis, will fill these posts through the Charity Commissioner’s office.

Previously, charitable hospitals appointed medical social workers to implement the scheme. However, as these social workers were representatives of the hospitals, it was brought to the government’s attention that patients were not receiving proper information about the scheme. In some cases, unnecessary documents were being requested, and treatment under the scheme was being denied. In response, Deputy Chief Minister Fadnavis reformed the recruitment process for health workers. This included establishing a special help room, implementing an online system, and launching a medical helpline for better enforcement of the charity hospital scheme.

The recruitment of Charitable Health Workers will make the hospitals more people-oriented and ensure that patients and their families receive accurate information about the scheme. Treatment will be provided based solely on the necessary documents, making it easier for genuinely poor and needy patients to access care. These health workers will also monitor the hospitals’ online portals to ensure real-time updates on available beds, facilitating a more effective and transparent implementation of the scheme.

Since the establishment of the state-level special help room, 418 patients have benefited from the scheme as of September 2024. A total of Rs 13 crore 25 lakh worth of free or subsidized treatment has been provided. A network of charitable hospitals operates across all districts of Maharashtra, except Hingoli. About 468 hospitals are registered under this scheme, offering approximately 12,000 beds to patients from poor and vulnerable sections. Notable hospitals include Kokilaben, NN Reliance, Bai Jerbai Wadia, Dr. Balabhai Nanavati, Bombay Hospital, and Sahyadri Hospital, among others.

A helpline has been established under the Deputy Chief Minister’s office to assist citizens in accessing immediate medical care at charitable hospitals during emergencies. This service is available 24/7 by calling 1800 123 2211, and patients can also visit the website https://charitymedicalhelpdesk.maharashtra.gov.in/ for information on charity hospitals and reserved beds.