Maharashtra: Deputy Chairperson of the Maharashtra Legislative Council, Dr Neelam Gorhe, recently held a virtual meeting with senior health officials to assess the progress and financial support for the Aapla Dawakhana clinics in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad. This initiative aims to provide accessible and affordable healthcare services to urban communities, particularly those from economically weaker sections.
During the review, it was revealed that out of 91 approved clinics across the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) and Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC), only 15 are currently functional—eight under PMC and seven under PCMC. Expressing concern over the delay, Dr Gorhe urged officials to ensure the swift activation of the remaining facilities to expand healthcare outreach.
Attendees included Dr Swanil Nale from the Health Department, District Surgeon Dr Nagnath Yampalle, PMC Assistant Health Officer Dr Manisha Naik, Assistant Director Dr Deepti Deshmukh, and Special Duty Officer Prashant Pisal.
Dr Gorhe underlined the importance of making immediate use of available government buildings to launch clinic operations. She suggested that instead of spending on rentals, funds should be reallocated to utilise existing government spaces efficiently, with prompt administrative clearances to avoid bottlenecks. The directive aims to accelerate healthcare service delivery and minimise delays in reaching underserved populations.
