Maharashtra Government Signs MoUs with PHFI and IMMMAST to Boost Quality and Capacity in Healthcare Sector

Key dignitaries present: Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Public Health and Family Welfare Minister Prakash Ambitkar, Women and Child Development Minister Aditi Tatkare, Minister of State Meghna Sakore-Bordikar

Mumbai : In a major step to strengthen and upskill Maharashtra’s public healthcare system, the Public Health Department signed Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with two premier national institutions—Public Health Foundation of India (PHFI) and Institute of Medical and Minimal Access Surgery Training (IMMMAST)—in the presence of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.

Also present at the event were Public Health Minister Prakash Ambitkar, WCD Minister Aditi Tatkare, Minister of State Meghna Sakore-Bordikar, Health Secretary Dr. Nipun Vinayak, Medical Education Secretary Dhiraj Kumar, Health Services Commissioner Dr. Kadambari Balkawade, directors from the health department, and senior representatives of PHFI and IMMMAST.

Chief Minister Fadnavis remarked that these partnerships will empower the healthcare system and provide hands-on training to nursing staff, which will be highly beneficial for their careers.

The MoUs signal a new chapter in training, research, and policy-making in Maharashtra’s public health domain. They will facilitate long-term technical collaboration and policy-level support, making the state’s public health infrastructure technologically advanced and future-ready.

Key Focus Areas Under the MoUs:

With PHFI:

• Capacity-building programs for medical officers and healthcare workers.
• Policy guidance and technical support for public health and training strategies.
• Research and implementation of innovations in health systems and policies.
• Possibility of setting up an Indian Institute of Public Health in Maharashtra.
• The agreement is for 5 years, extendable by another 5 years with mutual consent.

PHFI has trained over 45,000 primary healthcare providers across 583 districts in India and has played a pivotal role in public health education, training, and policy development over the last 17 years.

With IMMMAST:

• A national institute known for hyper-realistic simulation-based training in ICU care, nursing, and surgery.
• Over the next 3 years, 1,000 nurses, nursing students, and allied health professionals in Maharashtra will be trained in advanced skills through IMMMAST.
• Master trainers will be created to ensure continuous training at the state level.
• The agreement aims to boost the confidence and competence of frontline health workers.
• IMMMAST has trained over 25,000 doctors and nurses across 23 super-specialty domains and operates in over 35 countries.

These MoUs represent a major capacity-building leap for Maharashtra’s public health ecosystem and are expected to significantly enhance service quality, efficiency, and professional development in the sector.