PMC’s Urban Poor Health Scheme renamed for late deputy CM Ajit Pawar; Bhimale announces upgrades for maternity units & general hospitals

Pune: With a focus on improving public health services, standing committee chairman Shrinath Bhimale on Tuesday announced upgrading of six PMC-run maternity units and five general hospitals by providing advanced facilities. He also announced renaming of PMCs' Urban Poor Health Scheme as the ‘Late Deputy CM Ajit Pawar Urban Poor Health Scheme'.Bhimale added that a detailed review will be held, with some criteria to undergo changes to strengthen the scheme and pass on its benefit to more people. Bhimale's announcement was welcomed by corporators of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), which the late Ajit Pawar headed.The standing committee chairman also said that the cancer hospital coming up in Baner on a public-private partnership (PPP) basis will be ready in the next few months, while there is a plan to upgrade facilities at both PMC-run Kamla Nehru Hospital and Annasaheb Magar Hospital.Bhimale announced that a provision of Rs150 crore has been made in the budget to extend medical benefits to beneficiaries under various schemes. Hospitals will offer multi-speciality health services to citizens at affordable rates, he assured, adding that over 12,000 patients are availing services on a daily basis at PMC-run health facilities. The civic administration also aims to improve health infrastructure and provide trained doctors at its health facilities.100 public toilets for women to come upBhimale announced the setting up of 100 public toilets for women in various areas with a permanent provision in place for their maintenance.