CM announces health war room to be managed by a team under MITRA

  • Mumbai Live Team
  • Health

In a major administrative reform, a decision was taken by the Maharashtra government to establish a dedicated “war room” to monitor, streamline, and integrate all health-related schemes implemented by both the Central and state governments. The initiative was aimed at preventing duplication of benefits and ensuring that resources were used more efficiently for genuine beneficiaries.

It was reported that the Chief Executive Officer of the Maharashtra Institution for Transformation (MITRA) had been entrusted with the responsibility of leading this high-level committee. The proposed 12-member panel, under the MITRA CEO’s leadership, was to include administrative heads from various departments such as Public Health, Medical Education, Social Justice, Women and Child Welfare, Law and Judiciary, Labour, Tribal Development, Minority Development, and Divyang Welfare. The Chief Minister’s Relief Fund cell head and an assistant director were also expected to serve as committee members.

According to officials from the Public Health Department, the chief minister had issued directives to establish the war room exclusively for health-related issues. It was explained by departmental sources that several welfare schemes under both the Centre and the state were running concurrently, and in certain instances, individuals were found availing benefits from both schemes simultaneously—something that was not permissible. Hence, the integration of these schemes was planned to streamline benefits and prevent misuse.

A toll-free helpline number—1800 123 2211—was also to be introduced as a unified contact point for citizens seeking assistance related to health schemes or medical aid. This move was expected to simplify access for beneficiaries while enhancing transparency and coordination between departments.

It was noted that the state already operated similar war rooms for infrastructure, industrial, and social sector projects, and this new health-focused setup would function along the same lines. Former IAS officer Praveen Pardeshi, who had been appointed as the Chief Executive Officer of MITRA and also served as the Chief Economic Advisor to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, was to lead the effort. Pardeshi, being the co-chair of the state’s governing committee responsible for the Maharashtra Data Policy, would now additionally oversee all health-related integrations.

MITRA, which was created on the model of NITI Aayog, had been functioning as the state’s premier institution for strategic planning and development. Its objective had been to promote rapid and comprehensive growth through active participation from both private and non-governmental sectors. With this new assignment, the body’s scope was expanded further to include the crucial domain of public health governance, marking a significant step towards a more data-driven and coordinated health administration across Maharashtra.

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