New Era for Women's Health
Maharashtra has ushered in a new era for women's healthcare by establishing a network of 580 dedicated Menopause Clinics within its public health infrastructure.
These specialized centres, operational in government hospitals and urban health facilities, commenced offering weekly outpatient services on January 14, 2026. The primary objective of these clinics is to provide women experiencing midlife changes with comprehensive support, addressing a spectrum of physical, hormonal, and emotional well-being concerns. Patients can avail themselves of free gynaecological consultations, crucial counselling sessions, and essential screenings for bone density, heart health, and hormonal imbalances. Furthermore, the clinics dispense necessary medications and offer expert guidance, all conveniently consolidated at a single accessible point. Women are encouraged to visit their nearest government hospital or a designated urban health centre to access these services directly, ensuring broader reach and structured care for thousands across the state, especially those who previously faced barriers in obtaining specialized menopause-related support.
Early Impact of Clinics
The impact of Maharashtra's Menopause Clinics has been substantial since their inception on January 14, 2026. As of February 11, 2026, these 580 clinics, strategically located in district hospitals, sub-district facilities, municipal hospitals, and selected rural hospitals, have collectively attended to a significant number of women. A total of 31,288 women have been examined, with 30,034 receiving treatment. A small fraction, 82 women, were identified as requiring further specialized medical attention and were accordingly referred. The reach of this initiative spans numerous districts, including Akola, Amravati, Buldhana, Washim, Yavatmal, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Hingoli, Jalna, Parbhani, Kolhapur, Ratnagiri, Sangli, Sindhudurg, Beed, Dharashiv, Latur, Nanded, Bhandara, Chandrapur, Gadchiroli, Gondia, Nagpur, Wardha, Ahilyanagar, Dhule, Jalgaon, Nandurbar, Nashik, Pune, Satara, Solapur, Palghar, Raigad, and Thane. Major municipal corporations, such as Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, Thane, Navi Mumbai, Kalyan-Dombivli, Mira-Bhayander, Ulhasnagar, Panvel, Pimpri-Chinchwad, Solapur, Vasai-Virar, and Malegaon, are also part of this extensive network, ensuring broad accessibility.
Comprehensive Palliative Care
Complementing the focus on women's midlife health, Maharashtra's Health Minister Prakash Abitkar has also inaugurated the Maharashtra Palliative Care Programme. This crucial initiative aims to provide essential support to individuals grappling with long-term and chronic illnesses. The programme's scope encompasses vital services such as effective pain management, crucial psycho-social support, and dedicated counselling for patients and their families. Recognizing the importance of continuity of care, it also extends to offering home-based services, ensuring that patients receive support within their familiar surroundings. This program is designed to benefit individuals suffering from a range of debilitating conditions, including cancer, heart disease, diabetes, various neurological disorders, respiratory ailments, and other age-related health challenges. Officials have indicated that Auxiliary Nurse Midwives (ANMs) are actively engaged, already possessing lists of potential beneficiaries. The process of compiling a comprehensive registry of individuals in need of palliative care is currently underway, demonstrating a systematic approach to identifying and reaching those who will benefit most from this essential service.
