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Time of India
2 days ago
- Health
- Time of India
State to tie up with hospitals and corporates to help needy patients
Mumbai: The state govt is initiating a three-way funding arrangement to improve healthcare access for underprivileged patients. The chief minister's medical assistance cell is currently negotiating with corporate entities and hospitals to establish this tripartite funding structure. "A portion of the patient's medical bill will be paid by a corporate house, and the state will also contribute a bit," said Rameshwar Naik, who heads the Chief Minister's Medical Assistance Cell. The third partner would be the treating hospital itself. "We are trying to assess how much hospitals can contribute by reducing charges or providing free services," he added. The tripartite method would ensure more patients get help. "Instead of one corporate house helping one patient, the tripartite method will ensure more patients can be assisted," said a govt official. "The chief minister has also directed that we start crowdfunding efforts for patients who need specialised treatment that runs into lakhs or crores of rupees," said Naik, who heads the state's Charity Hospital Relief Cell. A few months back, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis linked the work of his medical assistance cell with the charity commissioner's office to ensure that economically needy patients get access to free beds and care in the various trust-run hospitals in the state. As charity trusts get concessions from the state, their hospitals have to provide 10% of the beds free of cost to families earning less than Rs 1.8 lakh per annum; another 10% of the beds are given at a subsidised rate to families earning less than Rs 3.6 lakh per annum. In the first six months of the year, 23,269 people were provided with Rs 149 crore in assistance by the Chief Minister's Medical Assistance Fund and Charity Hospital Relief Cell. The state is the first to receive Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA) registration to the Chief Minister's Relief Fund of Maharashtra, enabling it to receive foreign donations for "social" programmes.


Time of India
3 days ago
- Health
- Time of India
Maharashtra govt plans tripartite funding to aid needy patients
Mumbai: The state govt is initiating a three-way funding arrangement to improve healthcare access for underprivileged patients. The chief minister's medical assistance cell is currently negotiating with corporate entities and hospitals to establish this tripartite funding structure. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now "A portion of the patient's medical bill will be paid by a corporate house, and the state will also contribute a bit," said Rameshwar Naik, who heads the Chief Minister's Medical Assistance Cell. The third partner would be the treating hospital itself. "We are trying to assess how much hospitals can contribute by reducing charges or providing free services," he added. The tripartite method would ensure more patients get help. "Instead of one corporate house helping one patient, the tripartite method will ensure more patients can be assisted," said a govt official. "The chief minister has also directed that we start crowdfunding efforts for patients who need specialised treatment that runs into lakhs or crores of rupees," said Naik, who heads the state's Charity Hospital Relief Cell. A few months back, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis linked the work of his medical assistance cell with the charity commissioner's office to ensure that economically needy patients get access to free beds and care in the various trust-run hospitals in the state. As charity trusts get concessions from the state, their hospitals have to provide 10% of the beds free of cost to families earning less than Rs 1.8 lakh per annum; another 10% of the beds are given at a subsidised rate to families earning less than Rs 3.6 lakh per annum. In the first six months of the year, 23,269 people were provided with Rs 149 crore in assistance by the Chief Minister's Medical Assistance Fund and Charity Hospital Relief Cell. The state is the first to receive Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA) registration to the Chief Minister's Relief Fund of Maharashtra, enabling it to receive foreign donations for "social" programmes.


Time of India
12-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Scheme sanction limit of mukhiyas up
Patna: CM Nitish Kumar on Thursday made several key announcements for representatives of the three-tier panchayati raj system, including a 1.5-fold increase in their monthly allowances. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now He also declared that mukhiyas of gram panchayats would now be able to approve administrative works up to Rs 10 lakh under MGNREGA, up from the previous limit of Rs 5 lakh. The announcements were made during a meeting with gram panchayat, panchayat samiti and zila parishad representatives at the CM Secretariat here. Nitish also said that the construction of panchayat sarkar bhawans would be completed in all panchayats before the upcoming assembly elections. According to an official statement, the CM made six major decisions. These included an ex gratia of Rs 5 lakh to be given in case of normal deaths of panchayat representatives during their tenure. Earlier, this amount was only provided in cases of accidental deaths. In addition, panchayat representatives suffering from illness will be eligible for health assistance through the Chief Minister's Medical Assistance Fund. The CM also asked district officials to process applications for arms licences submitted by panchayat representatives within the stipulated time frame, in accordance with rules. "We have set a target to complete the panchayat sarkar bhawans in all gram panchayats before the elections," the CM said. "For this, the state govt has also approved the remaining 1,069 new panchayat sarkar bhawans. Orders are being issued to transfer the construction responsibility to the respective gram panchayats. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now If land is not available in the headquarters village, it can be acquired from a nearby village. I hope you will select the land soon and begin the work so that construction is completed ahead of schedule," the statement added. To enhance the utilisation of funds from the 15th Finance Commission and State Finance Commission, departmental schemes of up to Rs 15 lakh can now be implemented directly. Addressing the PRI representatives, Nitish said, "It is a matter of great happiness that this meeting has been organised. I was informed about your demands by the chief secretary and departmental officials. The panchayati raj department is taking action on most of them in line with the rules. Many of your demands have been fulfilled today." The CM also recalled the introduction of 50% reservation for women in the panchayati raj system in 2006 and in municipal bodies in 2007. "A large number of women are now leading society as elected representatives. We have worked for the development of all sections. We continue to engage with the representatives," he said.