Latest news with #Abitkar
India Today
20-05-2025
- Health
- India Today
Mumbai reports 53 active Covid cases, government says situation under control
Out of the 257 active Covid-19 cases in the country, 53 have been reported in Mumbai with no recent deaths related to the infection, according to official hospitals in the city are making arrangements for dedicated treatment facilities for Covid-19 patients, with the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) urging calm, saying it is constantly monitoring the current have also been advised by the civic authorities to immediately seek medical help if they notice any Covid-related Meanwhile, the Maharashtra government has also urged common citizens not to panic, saying the situation in India is under control."People are troubled because of this news. I want to tell you all, not to be scared. Corona is normal now, our immunity has increased, and this situation will persist; no need to panic. The government is alert. If any health-related problem arises, we are prepared. You can consult your doctor and take care of your health," Maharashtra Health Minister Prakash Abitkar said while speaking to the apprehensions around the recent surge in Covid-19 cases in some Asian countries, Abitkar said that the infection does not pose any danger as it did five years ago. "Patients will come up, Corona is normal, not like before. Patients stay normally, don't be scared like before, patients don't need to be identified," he Abitkar suggested that patients with comorbidities should take precautions and extra care during these state health minister also ruled out the need for any Standard Operation Procedure (SOP) to be followed with regard to Covid-19, saying that the government will surely follow one if it is issued by the Monday, the director general of health services chaired a review meeting of experts from the National Centre for Disease Control, Emergency Medical Relief division, Disaster Management Cell, the Indian Council of Medical Research and Central government hospitals have been instructed to monitor influenza-like illnesses and severe acute respiratory infection Union Health Ministry remains vigilant and proactive in monitoring the situation closely, ensuring that appropriate measures are in place to safeguard public health, sources told India cases in Mumbai and other parts of the country have raised concerns among people amid the recent surge in novel coronavirus infections in southeast Asia, with weekly cases in Hong Kong surging over 30 times in 10 weeks. Cases also surged by nearly 30 per cent in a week in Singapore. There are also reports of significant surges in China and Reel IN THIS STORY#Mumbai#Maharashtra
Time of India
19-05-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Maharashtra govt issues directives to strengthen healthcare system
Mumbai: Maharashtra Health Minister Prakash Abitkar on Monday directed officials to submit a proposal for framing a Health Policy and issued various instructions aimed at enhancing healthcare delivery and administration. The minister instructed officials to follow up on the Women and Child Welfare Department's government resolution to include staff from the Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana in relevant operations. He emphasised maintaining transparency in the transfer process of medical officers. Administrative transfers of officers who have completed more than eight years in service should be conducted through consultation, followed by voluntary transfers, a health department release stated. Transfers of officers in the S-23 pay scale will be based on performance evaluations. Inter-district transfers of Community Health Officers are to be completed by May 31, prioritising district preference, followed by intra-district placements, the minister stated. Abitkar issued these directions at a meeting chaired by him with senior officials, including Health Secretary Nipun Vinayak. He further directed that the service rules be amended to facilitate the promotion of Nursing Tutors to the post of Nursing Superintendent by including a 150-day training program on the agenda. The minister asked officials to submit a proposal to induct contract employees under the National Health Mission into government service and increase their honorarium. To address the shortage of Class I medical officers, the minister instructed that recruitment through the Maharashtra Public Service Commission (MPSC) be expedited. Legal firms are to be appointed to draft amendments to the Bombay Nursing Home Act and related legislation, with the proposed bill to be tabled in the upcoming monsoon session, the release said. The minister also approved an increase in incentives for Medical Assistance Cell staff and hiked compensation for ASHA workers from Rs 5 to Rs 20 per Ayushman Bharat card issued. Additionally, he called for establishing medical assistance centres in Kolhapur, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, and Mumbai, and directed the formulation of a 150-day action plan for the Health Department. A rural sanitation and health campaign is also on the cards. In a move to support healthcare workers in underserved regions, the minister directed the provision of special facilities for doctors posted in tribal and remote areas. Proposals for these facilities, along with supplementary budget demands for the fiscal year 2025, are to be submitted promptly. As part of a broader healthcare push, 17 Cancer Day Care Centres , as announced in the Union Budget, will be set up. Campaigns for TB-Free Panchayats and Tobacco-Free Schools are also to be launched. A supplementary demand of Rs 44 crore has been directed for submission to the Finance Department by May 31 to establish a new laboratory modelled on the National Institute of Virology. For the PM MedCity program, the availability of 50 acres of land near airports in Kolhapur or Pune will be explored, the release said. All supplementary demands and approved provisions for the 2025 budget must be compiled and submitted to the Finance Department before the May 31 deadline, the Minister added.
Time of India
19-05-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Contractual NHM staff may get permanent jobs; honorarium hike planned
Nagpur: Thousands of contractual healthcare workers under the National Health Mission (NHM) in Maharashtra may soon be regularised into govt service, bringing long-awaited relief and job security, health minister Prakash Abitkar announced in Mumbai. Abitkar instructed officials to urgently prepare a proposal for absorbing NHM staff who have worked for several years on temporary contracts. He also suggested changes in recruitment rules to accommodate the maximum number of eligible workers in a single phase. The minister further directed that a separate proposal for increasing the honorarium of NHM employees should be placed before the state cabinet at the earliest. Similarly, staff working under the Prime Minister's Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY) will also be considered for inclusion, with Abitkar asking the Women and Child Welfare Department to expedite a formal govt resolution. In a positive development for frontline health workers, the minister proposed raising payment for Asha (Accredited Social Health Activist) workers from the current Rs5 to Rs20 per task. Additionally, incentives for employees under the Mahatma Phule Jan Arogya Yojana are also being finalised. These decisions are part of a broader initiative to improve workforce motivation and service delivery in the state's public health programs. The meeting regarding this, held in Mumbai, was attended by senior officials, including health secretary Dr Nipun Vinayak, NHM director Dr Nitin Ambadekar, and other key department heads. If implemented, this reform could benefit thousands of contractual workers across Maharashtra and strengthen grassroots health programmes, especially in underserved rural and tribal areas. The NHM staff across the state haven't got salaries for the last three months. They threatened to go on strike over the issue from May 20. However, after this decision, the call to strike was withdrawn. NHM staff union leaders told TOI that they are expecting salaries in June and some concrete on-paper announcement of permanent jobs through govt resolution.
Time of India
19-05-2025
- Health
- Time of India
State govt proposes to amend Bombay Nursing Home Act; health dept to hire legal firm
Pune: Health minister Prakash Abitkar has directed officials to hire a legal firm to study the Bombay Nursing Home Act and the laws governing healthcare in Maharashtra and suggest necessary changes to them. He issued these instructions at a meeting he chaired in Mumbai on Sunday, a press statement said, adding the proposed amendments are primarily aimed at solving the problem of manpower shortage in hospitals. An amendment bill is likely to be presented in the winter session of the assembly. Abitkar also told the officials to submit a proposal to bring the contractual employees, who have been working under National Health Mission for many years, on the state govt payroll. It was also discussed that the honorarium of employees working under the mission would be increased. Another proposal to increase the incentive of ASHA workers by four times to encourage them to meet govt targets and work efficiently will be presented before the cabinet, he said. Abitkar also instructed the officials to prepare a proposal make changes in the service entry rules so that maximum employees can be taken in at the same time and instructed the women and child welfare department to follow up on the govt decision regarding inclusion of employees under Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana. Also, transfers of officers should be done by looking at their report cards. Inter-district transfers of community health officers should be done first — before May 31, followed by intra-district transfers, the statement quoted the minister giving orders at the meeting. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Trade Bitcoin & Ethereum – No Wallet Needed! IC Markets Start Now Undo To ensure that govt has maximum class I medical officers, the vacant posts should be filled immediately by following up with Maharashtra Public Service Commission. Among other proposals discussed were the provision of special facilities for doctors working in tribal and remote areas. Instructions were given to look for land in Kolhapur or Pune for the PM Medicity Programme. State govt has also planned to set up medical equipment rooms in Kolhapur, Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar and Mumbai. The minister also instructed the health department to prepare a 150-day action plan and submit it by May 20. Discussions on starting rural cleanliness and health campaign, tobacco-free school campaign, and setting up cancer day care centres at 17 places as announced by Central govt in the budget were held.
Hans India
19-05-2025
- Health
- Hans India
Submit proposal on state's health policy urgently: Maha Minister tells officials
Maharashtra Health Minister Prakash Abitkar on Monday directed the administration to immediately submit a proposal regarding the state's health policy in order to make the public health department more dynamic, people-oriented and transparent. Minister Abitkar, who chaired a high-level meeting, also gave instructions on the inclusion of contractual employees working under the National Health Mission in government service and the early submission of a proposal for an increase in their honorarium. He also asked the administration to follow up on the government decision of the Women and Child Welfare Department regarding the inclusion of employees under the Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana. 'There should be transparency in the transfer process of medical officers. Administrative transfers of medical officers, who have served for more than eight years, should be done through counselling, and after that, the transfer on request should be made. Also, transfers of officers in the S-23 pay scale should be done by looking at their report cards, and inter-district transfers of community health officers should be done first before May 31. They should be given a convenient district and then carry out intra-district transfers,' said the minister. He added that to ensure that the government has the maximum number of Class I medical officers, these posts should be filled up immediately by following up with the Maharashtra Public Service Commission (MPSC). He said that a legal firm should be appointed to amend the Bombay Nursing Home Act and other laws, adding that the bill should be presented during the upcoming monsoon session of the state legislature. Abitkar further instructed to present a proposal to the Cabinet to provide an incentive allowance to medical help desk employees and to pay Rs 20 instead of Rs 5 to ASHA workers for issuing Ayushman Bharat cards. He also asked the administration to set up medical help desks in Kolhapur, Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar and Mumbai. The minister directed that the Public Health Department should prepare a 150-day action plan and submit it by May 20, 2025. He further instructed to submit a detailed proposal for launching the Rural Cleanliness and Health Campaign in the state, as well as to start Cancer Day Care Centres at 17 places as announced by the Central government in its budget and to start TB-free Panchayats and Tobacco-free Schools campaigns. 'A proposal should be submitted for providing special facilities to doctors working in tribal and remote areas. A supplementary demand of Rs 44 crore for setting up a new laboratory on the lines of the Central government's NIV should be submitted to the Finance Department by May 31. Instructions were given to look into the availability of land in Kolhapur or Pune for the PM Medicity Program, considering the availability of 50 acres of land and the airports,' he said. He added that the department should immediately submit a proposal to the finance department by May 31.
