Maharashtra frames Cancer Cure policy; three tier structure to treat disease

Tata Memorial Hospital has been identified as the L-1 level apex institution. While hospitals affiliated to Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Chandrapur, Nagpur, Sir J. J. Medical College and Hospital Mumbai, Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj Government Medical College and Hospital and Chhatrapati Pramilaraje Hospital Kolhapur, B. J. Government Medical College, Pune; and two referral service hospitals of the Public Health Department at Nashik and Amravati have been identified as L-2 centers. While 8 hospitals affiliated to government medical colleges at Ambajogai (Beed), Nanded, Yavatmal, Mumbai (Cama and Albless Hospital), Satara, Baramati, Jalgaon and Ratnagiri and Shirdi Sai Sanstha hospital have been identified as L-3 level centers.

The MAHACARE Foundation will be established to provide manpower, funding and guidance to these L-2, L-3 centers as per the requirement.

Apart from this, a Command-and-Control Center will be established for coordination between all these centers. An expert executive board will be appointed for the day-to-day management of the foundation as well. The foundation will rely on the cooperation of NGOs in palliative care activities for cancer treatment. Along with developing new treatment methods for cancer, appropriate and cost-effective health programs will be designed at the local level. Activities will be implemented to increase awareness about research in health services and lifestyle changes to prevent diseases. The foundation will work to facilitate the exchange of information between health care centers in the country and the state.

An initial fund of Rs 100 crore will be made as share capital to Mahacare Foundation with 20 per cent of the fees received by cancer hospitals approved to be given under the Mahatma Phule Jan Arogya Yojana to Mahacare Foundation. Apart from this, the foundation will raise funds through clinical trials. The foundation will also be able to raise funds through international organizations as per the requirement as well as donations, grants, corporate social responsibility (CSR). This will enable the foundation to raise funds for other projects under the medical education and pharmaceuticals department besides cancer.

The procurement of equipment, manpower and management for L-3 level centers will be done through Mahacare Foundation as per the Public Private Partnership (PPP) policy. Only the expenditure for construction, equipment and manpower of Shirdi Institute Cancer Hospital will be borne by the Institute.

The Chief Minister will be the Chairman of the Mahacare Foundation, and both the Deputy Chief Ministers will be Vice-Chairmen. The Ministers of Medical Education, the Public Health, the Minister of State for both these departments, the Additional Chief Secretary of the Finance Department, Medical Education, and the Public Health Department, the Commissioner of the Medical Education Department, and the Commissioner of the Directorate of Health Services will be the Directors. In addition, an expert in the field of health services will be appointed as the Chief Executive Officer.