Maharashtra Health Department claims 1.08 crore citizens screened under the campaign.
No data shared on diagnoses or follow-up treatments.
Health officials’ silence sparks concerns over transparency.
Pune, 9th October 2025: The Maharashtra Health Department's latest campaign, 'Swasth Nari, Sashakt Parivar,' is being criticized for prioritizing impressive statistics over genuine health results. The department reported that it conducted health check-ups for more than 1.08 crore men and women throughout the state in just 15 days, from September 17 to October 2.
However, there is a lack of transparency regarding how many individuals were diagnosed with illnesses or received appropriate treatment.
As per official reports, over 230,000 health camps were held throughout the campaign. These camps are said to have included screenings for infectious diseases, high blood pressure, diabetes, tuberculosis, and cancers, along with check-ups for expectant mothers and advice on vaccination, nutrition, and menstrual hygiene.
Although the department has enthusiastically emphasized the large number of participants, it has conspicuously withheld information regarding diagnosed patients or those directed to additional medical treatment. This absence of transparency has led to significant doubts about whether the campaign resulted in any genuine health benefits beyond public declarations.
This is not the inaugural instance of a large-scale health screening initiative. Previous administrations have also conducted similar campaigns, boasting about examining millions during festivals like Ganeshotsav and Navratri.
However, the recurring problem remains, there is minimal documentation on the number of patients treated or how the data influenced future health policies. Experts suggest that a thorough analysis of this data could reveal disease patterns and enhance healthcare planning. Regrettably, such follow-up measures are seldom observed.
Efforts to reach State Health Directors Dr. Nitin Ambadekar and Dr. Vijay Kandevad for information were unsuccessful. Their persistent silence has been criticized, particularly after Health Minister Prakash Abitkar openly criticized them for not engaging with the media and withholding important information.
Even after the minister's involvement, the senior health officials have stayed uncommunicative, raising additional worries about internal communication and accountability within the department.
While the department marks the success of its health initiative, both citizens and experts are questioning whether the health concerns of individuals were genuinely tackled or if it was merely about achieving numerical targets.
