29 October,2026 03:28 PM IST | Mumbai | Abhitash Singh
The Aapla Dawakhana scheme aims to provide free healthcare services. Representational Pic/File/iStock
Residents of Panvel will soon have better access to free healthcare, with the Maharashtra government approving five new 'Hinduhridaysamrat Balasaheb Thackeray Aapla Dawakhana' in the Panvel Municipal Corporation (PMC) area.
The civic body currently operates two Aapla Dawakhana. With the latest approval, the number will increase to seven. The new facilities are expected to become operational in the coming days, PMC Chief Medical Officer Dr Anand Gosavi said.
The expansion comes amid a growing population within Panvel's municipal limits and an increasing need to make basic healthcare services more accessible, particularly for residents from economically weaker sections.
According to the civic body, MLA Prashant Thakur, Mayor Nitin Patil and Municipal Commissioner Mangesh Chitale had repeatedly followed up with the state government to secure approval for the additional clinics.
The Aapla Dawakhana scheme aims to provide free healthcare services closer to residents' homes, reducing the need to travel longer distances for basic medical treatment.
Apart from the two existing Aapla Dawakhana, the PMC provides healthcare services through 16 urban primary health centres and nine Arogyavardhini centres.
The five additional clinics are expected to strengthen this network and improve access to primary medical services across the municipal area once they become operational, officials said.
The initiative is part of the Maharashtra government's efforts to expand affordable healthcare and ensure that ordinary citizens can access basic medical services without placing an additional burden on their finances.
The PMC said healthcare remained a priority for the Panvel civic administration and that the new facilities would further improve the availability of local healthcare services.
