Parliament Question: Expansion of cardiac care and palliative services in Maharashtra

GOVERNMENT OFINDIA MINISTRYOFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE DEPARTMENT OFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE RAJYASABHA UNSTARREDQUESTION NO. 2831 TO BE ANSWEREDON17TH MARCH, 2026 EXPANSION OFCARDIAC CARE AND PALLIATIVESERVICES IN MAHARASHTRA 2831DR. MEDHAVISHRAM KULKARNI: Willthe Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILYWELFAREbe pleasedtostate: (a)whether proposals for establishment of cardiac catheterisationlaboratories(Cath Labs) indistricts of Maharastra including Punehave beenapprovedandif so, the detailsthereof includingfunding support; (b) whether a palliative care programme hasbeenrolledout inMaharashtra hospitals andif so, the detailsthereof; and (c)the measures takentoaddress staff shortages andinfrastructure gapsinmajorpublic hospitals includingthose inMumbai andPune? ANSWER THE MINISTER OFSTATE IN THE MINISTRYOFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE (SHRIPRATAPRAOJADHAV) (a)to(c) Healthbeinga State subject, the primaryresponsibility for strengthening of healthcare system including availability of doctors, specialist, paramedical staffs, and nurses lies with respective State/UT Governments. However, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India provides financial and technical support to the States/UTs including Maharashtra. Under National Health Mission (NHM), support is provided to States/UTs to strengthen their healthcare systems based on the Programme Implementation Plans (PIPs) submitted by the States/UTs within theiroverallresource envelope. As informed by the Government of Maharashtra, approval has been accorded for establishment of Cardiac Catheterisation Laboratories (Cath Labs) on a turnkey basis at four locations in the State, namely Pune, Jalna, Gadhinglaj and Kolhapur (Seva Hospital). The total approved cost of the projectis₹99.85Crore. The National Programme for Palliative Care (NPPC) is implemented across all States/UTs, with palliative care services functional in all 34 districts of Maharashtra, including Outpatient Department, Inpatient Department, and home-based care at District Hospitals. Palliative care is also one of the 12 essential services delivered through Ayushman Arogya Mandir. To address human resource shortages, the National Health Mission provides financial incentives such as hard area allowances, honoraria and flexible salary mechanisms to attract specialists. Non- monetary measures including preferential PG admission, improved accommodation, multi- skilling andskill upgradation of healthcarepersonnel are also supported. The PM-Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM-ABHIM) enhances public healthcareinfrastructure byaddressing criticalgapsinurbanandrural areas. Financial assistance is also given through localgovernments to strengthen the health system at the grass-root level asper recommendations of the fifteenth finance commission(FC-XV). The Government of India has approved several health infrastructure projects under NHM through Record of Proceedings (RoPs) for Maharashtra which includes construction of various health facilities as proposed by the State,the detailsof which canbe accessed at the following weblink. :- https://nhm.gov.in/index4.php?lang=1&level=0&linkid=55&lid=68. *****