Chief Minister’s Medical Assistance Fund: A lifeline for needy patients

Chief Minister's Medical Assistance Fund: A lifeline for needy patients

Among the many pro-people initiatives of the Fadnavis government from 2014 to 2019, was a particularly impactful one called the Chief Minister’s Medical Assistance (CMMA) Fund, which aimed to provide financial assistance to economically weaker and needy patients for expensive medical treatment. The CMMA initiative was launched by Devendra Fadnavis in 2015, as a part of the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund (CMRF)Trust. Today, the CM Medical Assistance initiative is active under the CMRF trust, providing financial assistance to the poor and people from the economically backward sections of society for the treatment of major diseases at the government or CMRF- empaneled hospitals. The CMRF trust was established way back in 1967, during the Vasantrao Naik government, but its use was limited. Devendra Fadnavis for the first time used CMRF effectively to impact the lives of the poor and needy in many ways, especially by providing life-saving treatments to numerous patients of major illnesses, on a regular basis. The following timeline presents the journey of CMRF to its present form:

1967

2001

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

2023

2024

2025

2026

Mar

Nov

Aug

Apr

Apr Jul

Apr

Apr Jul

Apr

Apr Mar Dec

Jan Mar Apr Jun Jul Aug

Apr

1967

2 Mar 1967

Establishment of Chief Minister’s Relief Fund Trust

The Chief Minister’s Relief Fund, Mumbai, was constituted under the Public Trust Societies Act under the chairmanship of the Chief Minister of Maharashtra State. Besides helping people affected by natural disasters, an objective of this trust was to provide financial assistance for treating poor people suffering from diseases. However, there were a few other trusts of the government, to help the poor with the surgery of expensive diseases. The Government Resolution clarifying the establishment and purpose of the Trust was issued on 2nd March 1967. A 10-member committee, headed by the then Chief Minister Vasantrao Naik, was formed to oversee the functioning of the trust.

2001

15 Nov 2001

The scope and objectives of the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund Trust

The objectives and rules of the Chief Minister’s Assistance Fund Trust management committee were set. The eight objectives of the Trust, made public through a Government Resolution dated 15th November 2001, are as follows:

To provide financial aid and other assistance to the victims of natural calamities in the state and the country, subject to norms.
To provide financial and other assistance to the family members of the person killed in caste riots, as well as to the injured persons and persons whose property has been damaged, subject to norms.
To provide financial and other assistance to the family members of the person killed in the Naxalite attack and to the injured persons, subject to norms.
To provide financial assistance for surgery and treatment for patients with serious diseases like heart, kidney, kidney transplant, brain, and cancer.
To provide financial assistance to the next of kin of the deceased and the injured persons from accidents, subject to criteria. Accidents involving automobiles, trains, planes, and boats were excluded.
To assist organizations helping persons with disabilities at various levels.
To help organize educational, social, and cultural gatherings, conferences, seminars, etc.
To provide financial assistance for the construction of educational and medical buildings.

2015

13 Aug 2015

Chief Minister’s Medical Assistance Cell set up by Devendra Fadnavis

The state government decided to provide financial assistance to patients for the treatment of major illnesses using the CM Relief Fund. As the applications from the patients started coming in large numbers to the Chief Minister’s office, CM Devendra Fadnavis formed the Chief Minister Medical Assistance Cell to manage the fast delivery of assistance to deserving patients by verifying and examining their applications promptly. An executive committee, comprised of the principals of the government hospitals, administrative officers, medical help desk coordinators, and health consultants, was formed.

2016

1 Apr 2016

Medical assistance provided under Chief Minister’s Relief Fund

1st January 2015 to 31st March 2016

During this period, 7 thousand 93 applications for medical assistance were received by the CM Relief Fund Maharashtra Cell. Out of them 4 thousand 867 patients were helped. 34 crore 82 lakh 8 thousand 679 rupees were given to these patients.

2018

1 Apr 2018

Medical assistance under the CM Relief Fund Maharashtra

Period 1st April 2017 to 31st March 2018

During this period, 34,261 applications for medical assistance were received by the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund Cell, out of which 18,836 applications were found eligible. These patients were provided financial assistance of Rs.188 crore 71 lakh 99 thousand 206 for their treatment.

2020

1 Apr 2020

Medical assistance under the CM Relief Fund Maharashtra

Period 1st April 2019 to 31st March 2020

During this period, 22,093 applications for medical assistance were received by the CM Relief Fund Cell. A total of 08,810 patients were found eligible and given Rs 69 crore 49 lakh 88 thousand 715 for their treatment.

2023

1 Apr 2023

Medical assistance under the CM Relief Fund Maharashtra

Period 1st April 2022 to 31st March 2023

During this period, 14,566 applications for medical assistance were received by the CM Relief Fund Cell. A total of 7,419 patients were found eligible and given Rs 57 crore 44 thousand 700 for their treatment.

CM Medical Assistance: A Ray of Hope for the Economically Weaker Sections

The Chief Minister’s Medical Assistance initiative under the CMRF Maharashtra has evolved through the years, into an assured support for needy and economically weaker citizens to meet their need for life-saving treatments. Numerous families are getting happiness back due to this initiative when their loved ones return home after successful treatment. Apart from that, the CMRF Maharashtra has also expanded its scope to provide financial aid for other health and rehabilitation needs for the citizens of Maharashtra, thanks to the visionary leadership of Devendra Fadnavis.

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Chief Minister’s Medical Assistance Fund: A lifeline for needy patients