Click for Care: Maharashtra’s App Puts Hospital Complaints on Fast Track

In a major initiative to improve healthcare transparency and patient empowerment, Maharashtra's Public Health Minister Prakash Abitkar has said that the state is developing a specialized mobile application. Through this application, patients will be able to lodge complaints against hospitals, view real-time availability of beds, and see hospital details covered under state health schemes. The effort is one part of a comprehensive package of reforms designed to upgrade emergency care and promote accountability in the healthcare sector.

 

Key Points

 

Mobile App for Patients

 

The Maharashtra government will create a mobile app to assist the public:

 

Register hospital complaints.

 

Get real-time information on government health scheme empanelled hospitals.

 

Check bed availability at hospitals that are participating.

 

Cashless Treatment for Accident Victims

 

All accident victims in Maharashtra will now be entitled to cashless medical treatment up to ₹1 lakh at empanelled and emergency hospitals, irrespective of their enrolment in government health schemes.

 

The scheme will provide immediate medical care without requiring cash payments upfront.

 

Increase in Empanelled Hospitals

 

The number of hospitals under the scheme will rise from 1,792 to 4,180.

 

District-level committees, headed by district collectors, will select new hospitals to ensure transparency.

 

Improving Scheme Coverage

 

A study committee has been constituted to:

 

Examine adding more medical procedures, such as high-cost procedures like organ transplants.

 

Revising treatment rates and including primary healthcare services.

 

Make recommendations within a month.

 

Community Health Initiatives

 

Every empanelled hospital will conduct a monthly health camp and give cashless treatment to a minimum of five patients.

 

Elected representatives will participate in these camps to increase outreach.

 

Ayushman Bharat Card Distribution

 

The government will speed up the distribution of Ayushman Bharat cards by engaging ASHA workers, Anganwadi workers, ration shop owners, and citizen service centres.

 

Honorariums for such workers will be raised to encourage participation.

 

Strict Monitoring and Transparency

 

Minister Abitkar stressed strict action against any malpractices or violations in the scheme.

 

Almost ₹1,300 crore has been released to hospitals since March, with promises of additional funds as required.

 

Sources: Times of India, Economic Times, Hindustan Times