Ahead of the upcoming Assembly elections, Jan Arogya Abhiyan—a coalition of NGOs and healthcare professionals—has released a damning report on Maharashtra’s health sector, awarding the state a mere 23 out of 100. The report sheds light on significant deficiencies in the state’s healthcare system, primarily focusing on insufficient funding, reliance on temporary staff, and lack of coherent health policies.
Key findings from the report indicate that Maharashtra allocates only 4.2% of its GDP to public health, significantly lower than the 8% recommended by global health organizations. The state’s per capita health spending of Rs 1,979 also lags behind the national average of Rs 2,342, placing it among the bottom six states in the country.
The coalition has also raised alarms over the over-reliance on temporary staff, with more than 31,000 contractual workers in the National Health Mission. Many of these workers have been in temporary roles for over a decade, yet their positions have not been regularized in recent years.
One of the most glaring issues highlighted is the shortage of specialist doctors, particularly in rural areas. 61% of positions in rural hospitals are reportedly vacant. Furthermore, Maharashtra—despite having the country’s largest urban population (5.6 crore people)—ranks 13th in hospital bed availability.
Budget Constraints and Scheme Funding Cuts
The Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Jan Arogya Scheme, a key initiative for public health, has also faced significant budgetary cuts. The funding for this scheme has dropped from Rs 8 crore in 2023-24 to Rs 6.27 crore in 2024-25, exacerbating the challenges faced by the state’s healthcare system.
Additionally, the report criticizes the growing trend of privatization in the sector. An estimated Rs 8,000 crore has been outsourced for ambulance services, and district hospitals are being allegedly privatized through public-private partnerships (PPPs), raising concerns about accessibility and quality.
Public Health Concerns
The coalition’s report also pointed to serious public health issues, including anemia, which affects 54% of women in the state. Other challenges include the unavailability of 24×7 delivery services in many Primary Health Centres (PHCs) and limited access to sonography services for pregnant women in Adivasi areas.
Lack of Strategic Planning
The report concludes by criticizing the lack of a cohesive health policy in Maharashtra, noting that health schemes are disjointed and have had little impact. Despite the lessons learned from COVID-19, the state has failed to implement strategic reforms to strengthen its health infrastructure. There have been reports of corruption within the health department, and the widespread use of contractual workers compromises patient care and job security.
The coalition has called for more consistent funding, greater transparency, and a shift toward long-term strategic planning to improve Maharashtra’s healthcare system and address these critical issues.
