Four Psychiatric Hospitals in Maharashtra to Be Upgraded to NIMHANS Standards: Health Minister Prakash Abitkar

Pune, 4th January 2025: Maharashtra will soon witness a transformation in its mental healthcare infrastructure, as four regional psychiatric hospitals in Pune, Thane, Ratnagiri, and Nagpur are set to be developed along the lines of the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS), Bengaluru. This ambitious initiative, aimed at strengthening the state’s mental health system, was announced by Health Minister Prakash Abitkar during his visit to the regional psychiatric hospital in Yerawada on Friday.

“Our goal is to significantly enhance mental health facilities in Maharashtra. The four regional psychiatric hospitals in the state are quite old, and not much has been done to upgrade them over the years. These hospitals will now be developed into state-of-the-art mental health institutions modeled after NIMHANS,” said Abitkar.

Emphasizing the importance of mental health, Abitkar said, “Stress management is a critical issue in today’s world. Just as physical ailments are treated in outpatient departments, mental health conditions also need equal attention. It is high time we recognize that people with mental illnesses are part of our society, our families, and deserve better care and support.”

The Health Minister outlined plans to improve infrastructure and provide advanced training to medical staff. “We will create modern facilities in these regional mental hospitals and train staff to handle patients with the latest methodologies. Rehabilitation facilities for patients will also be a priority. A comprehensive plan worth ₹132 crore will be prepared and submitted to the government. This project will be rolled out with financial provision in the upcoming budget,” he added.

During his visit, Abitkar also addressed issues surrounding medical bill reimbursements for government employees. “There have been many complaints about delays and obstacles in processing employees’ medical bills, often due to inefficiencies at the district surgeon level. This leads to unnecessary financial strain for employees. A proper system will be implemented to streamline the process, and strict action will be taken against those obstructing these practices after a thorough review,” he said.