Maharashtra Cabinet Clears INR 4,250-Cr Pragati Health Reform Project

The programme will be funded through a INR 2,975-crore loan from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and a Rs 1,275-crore contribution from the Maharashtra government.

The Maharashtra cabinet has approved a INR 4,250-crore five-year health sector reform programme, Primary Healthcare Reimagined with Advanced Governance and Accessible Technology Integration (Pragati), aimed at strengthening primary, secondary and tertiary healthcare across the state.

According to a government resolution (GR) issued on Tuesday, the Pragati project will be implemented from 2026 to 2031. The programme will be funded through a INR 2,975-crore loan from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and a INR 1,275-crore contribution from the Maharashtra government.

The project will focus on upgrading healthcare infrastructure, expanding digital health services, strengthening disease prevention and improving early diagnosis, with a stated objective of reducing out-of-pocket healthcare expenditure.

A major component of Pragati will be the prevention, screening and early detection of non-communicable diseases (NCDs). Primary health centres, Ayushman Arogya Mandirs, urban health centres and higher-level facilities will receive additional staff, medicines, diagnostic services and medical equipment.

The programme will cover hypertension, heart disease, stroke, chronic respiratory and kidney diseases, diabetes, childhood illnesses, cancer, mental health conditions and palliative care. An integrated referral and return-linkage system will connect patients identified at primary-level facilities with specialised care and follow-up services closer to their homes.

Under the digital health component, Pragati will strengthen the Maharashtra Health Technology Mission and develop a digital health ecosystem aligned with the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM). Proposed services include online patient registration, outpatient and inpatient management, digital laboratory reports, e-prescriptions, medicine dispensing, referral and counter-referral services, discharge summaries, and electronic and personal health records.

The project will also incorporate artificial intelligence, telemedicine, advanced diagnostics and other healthcare technologies. Capacity-building programmes are planned for medical officers, community health officers and other healthcare personnel.

Pragati will additionally include preventive health campaigns promoting healthier lifestyles, including tobacco and alcohol avoidance, regular physical activity, balanced diets and routine screening for hypertension, diabetes and cancer.

The Maharashtra government expects early diagnosis and timely treatment, particularly for NCDs and cancer, to help reduce healthcare costs while expanding the state's capacity to deliver public health services.

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