Jan Arogya Abhiyan report card: Maharashtra scores low in health sector performance due to insufficient fund MUMBAI: Ahead of the Assembly elections, Jan Arogya Abhiyan—a coalition of NGOs and health professionals—released a health report card alleging serious deficiencies in Maharashtra’s health sector, awarding the government a low score of 23 out of 100. The coalition’s assessment highlighted key alleged shortcomings, including insufficient funding, dependence on temporary staff, and a lack of strategic planning. According to the report, Maharashtra ranks near the bottom in public health spending, dedicating only 4.2% of its GDP to healthcare—well below the recommended 8%. Per capita health spending is reportedly Rs 1,979, below the national average of Rs 2,342 and placing Maharashtra sixth from the bottom. The report also claims an extensive reliance on over 31,000 contractual workers within the National Health Mission, many of whom have allegedly held temporary roles for over a decade without regularisation in the past two years. The report also flagged an alleged shortage of specialist doctors, with 61% of positions in rural hospitals vacant and insufficient healthcare infrastructure in urban areas. Maharashtra, with country’s highest urban population (5.6 crore), reportedly ranks 13th in hospital bed availability. As of October 2024, only 2% of the budget for Urban Health and Wellness Centres (HWCs) and 6% for essential supplies, including medicines, had been used. Further budget constraints were noted in the Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Jan Arogya scheme, with funds allegedly cut from Rs 8 crore in 2023-24 to Rs 6.27 crore in 2024-25. The coalition also criticised large-scale privatisation, including an estimated Rs 8,000 crore outsourced for ambulance services and alleged privatisation of district hospitals under public-private partnerships (PPPs). The report highlighted ongoing public health issues, alleging that 54% of women suffer from anemia, while 24×7 delivery services remain unavailable in many Primary Health Centres, and access to sonography for pregnant women is limited in Adivasi areas. Summarising their assessment, the coalition alleged that Maharashtra lacks a cohesive health policy, relying instead on scattered schemes with limited impact. Despite Covid-19’s lessons, there has been little strategic planning to strengthen the health system. Reports of increased privatisation, alleged corruption within the health department, and extensive use of contractual health workers, which reportedly compromises consistent patient care and job security, were also included in the report.

MUMBAI: Ahead of the Assembly elections, Jan Arogya Abhiyan—a coalition of NGOs and health professionals—released a health report card alleging serious deficiencies in Maharashtra’s health sector, awarding the government a low score of 23 out of 100. The coalition’s assessment highlighted key alleged shortcomings, including insufficient funding, dependence on temporary staff, and a lack of strategic planning.

According to the report, Maharashtra ranks near the bottom in public health spending, dedicating only 4.2% of its GDP to healthcare—well below the recommended 8%. Per capita health spending is reportedly Rs 1,979, below the national average of Rs 2,342 and placing Maharashtra sixth from the bottom. The report also claims an extensive reliance on over 31,000 contractual workers within the National Health Mission, many of whom have allegedly held temporary roles for over a decade without regularisation in the past two years.

The report also flagged an alleged shortage of specialist doctors, with 61% of positions in rural hospitals vacant and insufficient healthcare infrastructure in urban areas. Maharashtra, with country’s highest urban population (5.6 crore), reportedly ranks 13th in hospital bed availability. As of October 2024, only 2% of the budget for Urban Health and Wellness Centres (HWCs) and 6% for essential supplies, including medicines, had been used.

Further budget constraints were noted in the Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Jan Arogya scheme, with funds allegedly cut from Rs 8 crore in 2023-24 to Rs 6.27 crore in 2024-25. The coalition also criticised large-scale privatisation, including an estimated Rs 8,000 crore outsourced for ambulance services and alleged privatisation of district hospitals under public-private partnerships (PPPs).

The report highlighted ongoing public health issues, alleging that 54% of women suffer from anemia, while 24×7 delivery services remain unavailable in many Primary Health Centres, and access to sonography for pregnant women is limited in Adivasi areas.

Summarising their assessment, the coalition alleged that Maharashtra lacks a cohesive health policy, relying instead on scattered schemes with limited impact. Despite Covid-19’s lessons, there has been little strategic planning to strengthen the health system. Reports of increased privatisation, alleged corruption within the health department, and extensive use of contractual health workers, which reportedly compromises consistent patient care and job security, were also included in the report.

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