The Maharashtra Public Health Department is set to form a State-level committee for the effective implementation of the leprosy eradication programme in the State. The committee will include experts, doctors, representatives from NGOs, and individuals working in the field of leprosy eradication.
“Reports will be submitted to the State government every three months, and the recommendations will be used to implement the leprosy eradication programme,” State Health Minister Prakash Abitkar said during a meeting with stakeholders.
The decision comes after Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) MLA Sulabha Khodke, along with NGOs, demanded an increase of grants for the leprosy eradication programme.
An independent committee to determine the working methods for patient search campaigns, treatment, and rehabilitation will be formed to monitor the leprosy eradication programme at the State-level under the Health Services Commissioner, officials from the Public Health Department said.
At present, there are 2,764 beds in 12 voluntary hospitals treating leprosy, while 1,825 beds have been approved in 11 rehabilitation institutions in the State, according to the Public Health Department. Out of these, hospital-based institutions receive a subsidy of ₹2,200 per bed per month, and rehabilitation institutions receive ₹2,000 per bed per month.
“The Public Health Department has prepared a proposal to increase this subsidy to ₹6,000 per bed and submitted it to the Finance Department, which will soon be placed before the State Cabinet,” Mr. Abitkar said. The department should focus on the three pillars of leprosy detection, treatment, and eradication, he added.
The focus should be on detection through Asha workers, school health check-ups, and other ground-level health workers, the State Health Minister said.
Published – July 16, 2025 04:04 am IST
