Part-II of Uddhav’s Maharashtra vision: Telemedicine for better rural healthcare

On Sunday, Thackeray also unveiled the scheme’s model for two districts — Chandrapur in Vidarbha region and Palghar in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region.

The Shiv Sena leader further said a team of 25 expert doctors, which include renowned oncologists and neurosurgeons, was working on the model. The telemedicine service has also been made available in Shiv Sena shakhas that are equipped with video conferencing facilities. He further informed that his party was also working on a scheme to promote better use of generic medicines. “At present, the primary healthcare is woefully inadequate. This results in denial of timely treatment to patients,” Thackeray said, taking a dig at the ruling combine.

Without naming any political party or person, Thackeray further said, “With elections in mind, some people are dishing out false assurances, which would be forgotten after polls. With the vision document, we intend to showcase to people the plans to build an educated and healthy state. Our intention is to put our plans before people and let them decide on whether they wish to benefit from it.”

Within hours, however, Thackeray’s bete noire and Congress poll committee chief Narayan Rane mounted an offensive against him and Sena’s vision document. “He (Thackeray) opted out of the chief ministerial race having realised that he lacks vision and potential to lead the state. His vision document will serve as a guideline for us (the Congress) when we are elected to power again,” Rane said. Firing another salvo, he said, “Thackeray has woken up now to plan schemes for public welfare, whereas we (Congress leaders) have been doing this round-the-clock.”

When asked if this was Shiv Sena’s solo vision document or was it also endorsed by Shiv Sena-BJP grand alliance, Thackeray said this would be the the vision document of the government of the grand alliance, which would be elected to power in Maharashtra.