Government to amend law to curb irregularities in charitable hospitals !

Decision to introduce a ‘dashboard’ to provide information on treatment given to patients at concessional rates !

Mumbai, 24 February – Charitable hospitals are mandatorily required to spend 2 per cent of their total income on the treatment of poor and indigent patients. It has been found in the State that some charitable hospitals are misleading the government by furnishing false information in this regard. To curb this, it has been decided to make it compulsory for charitable hospitals to provide the government with details of the expenditure incurred on every patient receiving treatment at concessional rates. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis informed the Legislative Assembly on 24 February that the law would be amended for this purpose. BJP MLA Bhimrao Tapkir had raised a starred question in the House, stating that charitable hospitals, despite receiving financial benefits from the government, were not extending those benefits to poor patients. In response, the Chief Minister provided the above information.

Some charitable hospitals reportedly show bogus names of known persons as ‘patients’ and submit false claims to the government that money has been spent on their treatment. The above decision has been taken to prevent such malpractices.

Maharashtra Government to Amend Law to Check Irregularities in Charitable Hospitals

Plans legal amendments and a patient treatment information “dashboard” to improve transparency in charitable hospitals.

A charitable hospital is meant to serve with compassion – not function… pic.twitter.com/LmX0RGD8hS

— Sanatan Prabhat (@SanatanPrabhat) February 24, 2026

Government clarifies definition of concessions

The Chief Minister stated that some hospitals receive direct benefits from the government, while others receive indirect benefits. Hospitals availing indirect benefits were not extending concessions to poor patients. Therefore, during the previous session of the Legislature, the government defined the term ‘concessions’. Thereafter, the number of charitable hospitals has increased. At present, there are 479 charitable hospitals in the State.

He further stated that the government currently has no mechanism to verify whether charitable hospitals are actually spending funds on poor and indigent patients. Through the proposed dashboard system, it will be possible to ascertain how many beds are vacant in each hospital and how much expenditure has been incurred on every patient.

Hearings of cases related to charitable hospitals to be completed within one-and-a-half to two months – Ashish Jaiswal, Minister of State, Law and Judiciary Department

Certain issues concerning charitable hospitals are pending before the Supreme Court of India. The Court has directed the Law and Judiciary Department to conduct hearings on these matters. As stated by Minister of State for Home (Rural) Pankaj Bhoir, all hearings will be completed within one-and-a-half to two months, and concessions will be ensured for poor and indigent patients. The government will ensure that the partial grants provided to charitable hospitals are utilised in the larger public interest.

Editorial Perspective

A charitable hospital is, by definition, a medical institution that has embraced the spirit of service. If irregularities occur in such hospitals, it clearly indicates a lack of service-mindedness among their officials, staff and doctors. Along with corrective measures, the State Government should also incorporate provisions in the law for stringent action against those who deceive patients.