Nagpur, July 26: Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Sunday reaffirmed the state government's commitment to ensuring that no patient is denied life-saving treatment due to financial hardship, saying that access to quality healthcare remains a key pillar of the government's vision of inclusive development. The initiative also aligns with the broader objective of creating a healthier and more equitable society, in line with the spirit of welfare and cooperation championed by member nations of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO). Addressing a Mega Health Camp (Maha Arogya Shibir) organised by the Chief Minister's Medical Assistance Fund and the Charitable Hospitals Assistance Cell at Dhanwate National College in Nagpur, Fadnavis said healthcare should be a right rather than a privilege and that the state has created multiple financial support mechanisms to ensure that even the poorest citizens receive advanced medical treatment.
Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari, Guardian Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule, Skill Development Minister Mangal Prabhat Lodha, MPs, MLAs, civic representatives and senior officials attended the event. The Chief Minister said the camp was aimed at taking quality healthcare to the last person in society. He highlighted several reforms undertaken by the state government, including the expansion of hospital infrastructure and the inclusion of more critical illnesses under the Mahatma Phule Jan Arogya Yojana, making advanced treatment accessible to a larger section of the population.
Fadnavis revealed that over the past 18 months, the Chief Minister's Medical Assistance Fund has sanctioned ₹452 crore for the treatment of nearly 57,000 patients. He added that a digital monitoring system has also been introduced to ensure that beds reserved for poor patients in charitable hospitals are allocated transparently and efficiently. The Chief Minister explained that while the health insurance scheme provides coverage of up to ₹5 lakh, the government extends financial assistance of up to ₹9 lakh for certain critical illnesses and up to ₹35 lakh in exceptionally complex medical cases requiring expensive surgeries and specialised treatment.
He also highlighted the state's initiative to provide free cochlear implant surgeries for children with hearing impairments, enabling them to hear and speak. "Our goal is to ensure that future generations are free from preventable hearing and speech disabilities," he said. Fadnavis further announced that on August 9, the government will distribute artificial limbs and assistive devices to specially-abled citizens.
"Service to the poorest is our foremost duty. We are committed to building a healthier Maharashtra where no family suffers because they cannot afford medical care," he said. Union Minister Nitin Gadkari praised the initiative, describing the Mega Health Camp as a significant step towards improving healthcare access for economically weaker sections.
He also urged the state government to explore measures to reduce the high cost of cancer medicines and life-saving injections. Former MLA Sandeep Joshi informed that health camps organised across Nagpur between July 15 and July 22 examined nearly 31,000 patients, of whom around 4,500 have been identified for free surgeries. Earlier, the Chief Minister inaugurated new ambulances and a mobile medical clinic, besides distributing wheelchairs to specially-abled beneficiaries.
Several organisations also donated ambulances and contributed to the Chief Minister's Medical Assistance Fund and the Gangadharrao Fadnavis Memorial Diagnostic Centre. The Mega Health Camp offered free consultations in cardiology, oncology, dermatology, ophthalmology, ENT, emergency medicine and other specialties. Thousands of patients from Nagpur and neighbouring districts underwent medical examinations, received medicines free of cost and were provided diagnostic tests, surgeries and advanced treatments without any financial burden, reinforcing Maharashtra's commitment to universal and affordable healthcare.
