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Category: Maharashtra

  • Maharashtra to launch air ambulance service on 3 highways from New Year

    Maharashtra to launch air ambulance service on 3 highways from New Year

    Joy Sengupta

    Pune: The state govt plans to launch an emergency air ambulance service on three major highways from early next year to ensure faster medical assistance to accident victims, transport minister Pratap Sarnaik said on Tuesday.

    The service will cover Samruddhi Mahamarg (Mumbai-Nagpur highway), Pune-Mumbai Expressway and Mumbai-Goa highway, with the aim of transporting critically injured victims to hospitals during the crucial ‘golden hour’ — the first hour after an accident, when timely treatment can significantly improve survival chances.

    “The aim is to ensure timely medical treatment for those injured in severe road accidents and help save lives,” Sarnaik said.

    The govt plans to finalise and secure approval for a standard operating procedure (SOP) by Nov 15. The tendering process will begin after approval from the high-powered committee, expected by the end of Nov. The service is scheduled to become operational at the beginning of the new year, he added.

    Around 15,000 road accidents are reported in Maharashtra annually, Sarnaik said. Reaching victims quickly remains a challenge, particularly on highways where traffic congestion, long distances to hospitals and inadequate access to emergency medical facilities can delay treatment.

    The proposed system will focus on air ambulance availability, safe transportation of injured victims to trauma care centres and coordination among emergency response agencies. The transport department will work with the health department and police to frame the SOPs. The plan also includes developing a network of trauma care centres, empanelling service providers, allocating funds from the road safety fund and standardising emergency response protocols.

    Aviation experts, however, cautioned that implementing a round-the-clock service would require substantial infrastructure and coordination. “With rapid urbanisation, exponential growth in vehicles and chronic traffic jams, reaching accident victims, especially on highways during the critical golden hour, has become extremely challenging, often costing precious lives. While the govt’s intent is commendable, introducing such a 24×7 service is not easy,” aviation analyst Dhairyashil Vandekar said.

    He said the initiative would require seamless coordination among National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC), health department, Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), air traffic control authorities and hospitals. “Dedicated helipads at regular intervals, night-landing facilities, specially trained paramedics and a robust command-and-control centre will also be essential,” he said.

    Vandekar also called for a viable medical insurance model to cover air ambulance costs and keep the service affordable. “The govt must simultaneously look at a medical insurance model that covers air ambulance charges, as is done in developed countries, so that the service does not remain limited to the privileged and is financially sustainable,” he said.

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  • Maharashtra developing state-level 'Living Lab' to improve healthcare quality

    Maharashtra developing state-level 'Living Lab' to improve healthcare quality

    • Published On Oct 14, 2026 at 07:49 AM IST
    • Read by 100 Professionals

    Mumbai: Maharashtra is developing a state-level ‘Living Lab’ to promote healthcare innovation and improve quality standards with a focus on testing solutions based on community needs, officials said.

    The initiative, conceptualised by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, aims to improve the quality of healthcare services and compliance with quality standards, while creating opportunities for skill development and employment in the state, an official release said on Tuesday.

    The platform will identify local healthcare priorities, develop solutions in consultation with communities and test new approaches in the existing healthcare system.

    It will bring together the government, healthcare providers, the private sector, academic institutions, innovators and development partners to strengthen the healthcare system and improve treatment pathways, the release said.

    The initiative will also leverage artificial intelligence, digital health, data and precision health, along with other technological innovations.

    An important objective is to link the capabilities of the private healthcare sector with public health priorities. The participation of various stakeholders is expected to help develop practical, affordable and accessible solutions tailored to local needs.

    The initiative will assess the potential of successful solutions for expansion across Maharashtra and elsewhere. In subsequent phases, it will also explore opportunities for local skill development, employment and enterprise creation linked to community healthcare needs.

    The programme seeks to ensure that innovation reaches every citizen, including people in remote areas and underserved communities, rather than focusing solely on the adoption of new technologies.

    It aims to test solutions through collaboration among the government, communities, innovators and partners, analyse the findings and scale up approaches that improve healthcare quality and equity.

    The Living Lab will serve as a platform for generating evidence and fostering collaboration, with community needs and local ownership at its core. It will also strengthen coordination between innovators, the healthcare system and frontline service providers.

    The ‘Manyata’ initiative of the Federation of Obstetric and Gynaecological Societies of India (FOGSI) is an early example of this approach. The initiative complements the government’s efforts to strengthen maternal healthcare and demonstrates how a private-sector quality improvement model can work alongside the public health system, the release said.

    The ‘MSD for Mothers’ initiative is coordinating the effort and bringing together various partners to develop this collaborative model. Partnerships will be used to turn innovations into practical and sustainable solutions to strengthen the healthcare system, it added.

    • Published On Oct 14, 2026 at 07:49 AM IST

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  • Maharashtra to soon introduce digital system for milk tracking to curb adulteration: FDA chief

    Maharashtra to soon introduce digital system for milk tracking to curb adulteration: FDA chief

    Mumbai: Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe on Saturday said the state expects to introduce a digital system within “six months to a year” to trace milk from dairies and collection centres back to the animal, a move aimed at reducing adulteration and ensuring food safety.

    Speaking at the India Today Conclave Mumbai 2026 here, Mundhe also said FDA had begun inspecting milk collection centres across Maharashtra to check for adulteration, unsafe milk and compliance with prescribed practices for collection, manufacturing and hygiene.

    “Over the next few months, possibly within six months to a year, we are going to use a digital system to track it down. Every animal is tagged with an ear tag, which contains its details. If we match those details with the milk produced, I think adulteration and unsafe milk will go down,” Mundhe said.

    “About 15 days ago, we listed hundreds of milk collection centres where our teams are conducting inspections. We will trace the milk back to the farmer,” he added.

    Explaining the proposed mechanism, Mundhe said the department would use data from the Animal Husbandry Department to match details of milk production with information about tagged animals.

    The process would help authorities identify discrepancies and trace the source of adulterated milk, he said.

    “Milk collection centres, chilling centres and dairies that had earlier failed to comply with regulations are beginning to improve compliance following inspections and enforcement action. Food safety needs to become a public movement involving consumers, food businesses and government agencies, rather than depending on the efforts of individual officers,” Mundhe pointed out.

    “Food safety affects all of us, from conception to the last moment of our lives. It affects public health, the economy, GDP growth and farmers. Both the demand side, where consumers seek safe food, and the supply side, where businesses comply with rules, have to work together,” he said.

    The FDA commissioner said food safety practices were gradually spreading across the sector, from street food vendors to established food businesses, although the pace of change could vary.

    He also referred to initiatives such as the ‘Eat Right School’ campaign in Maharashtra, aimed at encouraging children to consume nutritious food and avoid junk food. He said the department had received responses from parents supporting the initiative.

    On pharmaceutical regulation, Mundhe said the FDA was taking action against non-compliant establishments across the drug supply chain, including pharmacies and manufacturing units. The department was also examining manufacturers of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), which form the basis of medicines.

    He said inspections had revealed deficiencies in some manufacturing facilities, including rusty equipment, and the department was strengthening surveillance and enforcement across the pharmaceutical sector.

    • Published On Oct 12, 2026 at 11:33 AM IST

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