Maharashtra Gov Approves INR 4,250 Cr PRAGATI Project to Advance Healthcare Transformation

The newly introduced Maharashtra Health Technology Mission is expected to scale Maharashtra’s digital healthcare transformation.

The Maharashtra Cabinet has approved the INR 4,250 crore Primary Healthcare Reimagined with Advanced Governance and Accessible Technology Integration (PRAGATI), aimed at transforming the state’s public healthcare through improved governance, advanced technology, and expanded access to quality medical services.

According to the latest announcement by Minister for Public Health and Family Welfare Prakash Abitkar, the project will be implemented over a period of five years, from 2026 to 2031, to make healthcare services more accessible, integrated, and technology-driven across Maharashtra.

“The PRAGATI project will transform the public health landscape in Maharashtra,” the Health Minister said.

Project Highlights

Under the project, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) will fund 70% of the project cost through a loan of INR 2,975 crore, while the Government of Maharashtra will contribute the remaining INR 1,275 crore.

The project seeks to strengthen NCD prevention and treatment, strengthen cancer screening, and expand digital health infrastructure.

Additionally, the project focuses on major NCD conditions, including diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular diseases, chronic kidney disease, COPD, stroke, and mental health conditions.

The initiative will also support diabetic retinopathy, fatty liver disease, palliative care and hospice services, while expanding early screening and diagnostic systems for breast, cervical and oral cancers.

The project also includes extensive public awareness campaigns, behavioural change communication, counselling services and capacity building of healthcare workers.

A key component of the PRAGATI project will be the expansion of Maharashtra’s digital healthcare ecosystem.

The newly introduced Maharashtra Health Technology Mission is expected to scale Maharashtra’s digital healthcare transformation.

It focuses on expanding electronic health records, integrated health information systems, telemedicine services, and advanced digital health applications.

By leveraging technology, the initiative seeks to bring healthcare services closer to citizens while improving coordination between primary, secondary, and tertiary healthcare facilities.

Further, to reduce the overburdening of tertiary referral hospitals, the project allocates approximately INR 1,500 crore in capital expenditure to enhance hospital infrastructure across five key districts, including Kolhapur, Nanded, Pune, Latur, and Nagpur.

The proposed expansion is expected to add a total of 1,600 hospital beds, integrating advanced diagnostic, treatment, and referral services to be addressed directly at the district level.

By integrating health services, leveraging digital governance, and enhancing clinical capacity, the initiative is expected to significantly reduce out-of-pocket medical expenditures for citizens while accelerating the state's progress toward Sustainable Development Goal 3 (SDG-3) and Universal Health Coverage (UHC).

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