In a decisive move to root out corruption and promote transparency, Maharashtra's Public Health and Family Welfare Minister, Prakash Abitkar, has ordered a complete overhaul of the transfer and promotion system within the state's health department. This directive comes in the wake of serious allegations against a senior health official in Pune, who was accused of soliciting a bribe through an intermediary to arrange an inter-district transfer.
New Performance-Based Ranking System
According to a press statement released on Saturday, the state has empowered the State Health Systems Resource Centre (SHSRC) to implement a new evaluation framework. The SHSRC, which is modeled after the National Health Systems Resource Centre in New Delhi and provides technical support, will now be responsible for assessing the performance of senior officers and health institutions across all districts and municipal corporations.
The centre will generate monthly rankings based on three key pillars: administrative efficiency, technical competence, and financial management. Minister Abitkar has instructed that these objective rankings must serve as the primary and non-negotiable criteria for all future human resource decisions, including transfers and promotions.
Aim to Eliminate Middlemen and Streamline Services
The landmark decision is expected to significantly streamline the functioning of Maharashtra's public health services. By institutionalizing a data-driven and transparent process, the government aims to eliminate the influence of middlemen and the scourge of illicit payments that have long plagued the system. This shift promises to ensure that career advancements are earned through merit and performance on the ground.
Kailash Bawiskar, Deputy Director (IEC) of Health Services, confirmed that the new system will apply comprehensively to all employees from Class 1 to Class 3. He outlined the operational details, stating, "District programme managers, district accounts managers, and National Health Mission consultants and officers have been instructed to conduct regular field visits to health institutions. They are required to submit objective reports based on these visits, which will directly feed into the ranking system."
High-Level Meeting Sets the Agenda
The directives were formalized during a high-level meeting focused on recruitment, human resource streamlining, and institutional oversight. The meeting saw the participation of key stakeholders from the health administration, demonstrating the government's commitment to the reform.
Principal Secretary (Health) Nipun Vinayak, Secretary E. Ravindran, Health Commissioner Kadambari Balkawade, and Director of Health Services Nitin Ambadekar were among the senior officials present. They were joined by Health Department Director Vijay Kandewad, Joint Directors Rajendra Bhalerao, Sunita Golhait, and Sarita Hazare, along with advisors Subhash Salunkhe and Mohan Jadhav.
This systemic intervention, triggered by the Pune bribery case, marks a significant step towards building a more accountable, efficient, and corruption-free public health machinery in Maharashtra.
