The committee will include medical experts, doctors, NGOs, and individuals working in the field of leprosy eradication, Health Minister Prakash Abitkar said, adding that it will submit a report to the state government every three months
Health Minister Prakash Abitkar expressed confidence that the committee's recommendations will help improve the implementation of the programme
To strengthen the fight against leprosy in Maharashtra, the state’s Public Health Department will set up a state-level committee for effective implementation of the leprosy eradication programme, Health Minister Prakash Abitkar said on Tuesday.
The committee will include medical experts, doctors, NGOs, and individuals working in the field of leprosy eradication, he said.
The committee will submit a report to the state government every three months.
Abitkar expressed confidence that the committee's recommendations will help improve the implementation of the programme.
According to an official statement, an independent committee under the leadership of the Health Services Commissioner will also be formed. The committee will plan actions for identifying patients, providing treatment, and ensuring rehabilitation at urban, rural, and school levels. It will also offer guidance for leprosy-related work across the state.
"To improve monitoring at the state level, an independent committee will also be set up under the leadership of the Commissioner of Health Services. This committee will create guidelines for identifying patients, providing treatment, and supporting rehabilitation efforts in urban, rural, and school areas, and will guide related work across the state," the official statement said.
Meanwhile, in a meeting held at Vidhan Bhavan, MLA Sulabha Khodke and representatives of voluntary organisations requested an increase in financial aid.
Currently, 12 hospitals treating leprosy patients have 2,764 beds, while 11 rehabilitation centres have 1,825 approved beds. Hospitals receive Rs 2,200 per bed per month, and rehabilitation centres get Rs 2,000.
The meeting was attended by MLA Sulabha Khodke, representatives from Vidarbha Maharogi Seva Mandal Tapovan, Health Services Commissioner Dr Kadambari Balkawade, Health Director Dr Vijay Khandewad, Leprosy Deputy Director Dr Sangle, and representatives from various NGOs.
The statement further said that the Public Health Department has proposed increasing this aid to Rs 6,000 per bed per month. The proposal has been submitted to the finance department and will soon be presented to the state cabinet, the Health Minister said.
He stated that the leprosy eradication programme is an important initiative under Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He instructed officials to focus on three key areas: patient detection, treatment, and eradication. He urged health workers, ASHA workers, and school health programmes to reach as many patients as possible.
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