Maharashtra Expands MJPJAY To Cover PET Scans, Offering Relief to Cancer Patients
The Maharashtra government will soon include PET scans under the Mahatma Jyotirao Phule Jan Arogya Yojana (MJPJAY), making a key cancer diagnostic test more affordable. Officials expect the process to be completed within a month. The move aims to encourage early diagnosis and treatment by reducing the financial burden on patients.
In a major relief for cancer patients, the Maharashtra government has decided to include Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scans under the Mahatma Jyotirao Phule Jan Arogya Yojana (MJPJAY), a move aimed at making cancer diagnosis more affordable and improving access to timely treatment. Officials said the process of adding the investigation to the health insurance scheme is underway and is expected to be completed within a month.
A PET scan, an important investigation used to diagnose and stage cancer, currently costs between INR 15,000 and INR 30,000. Health officials said the high cost often delays diagnosis, with many patients seeking treatment only after the disease has progressed to an advanced stage. AIIMS Delhi Doctors Remove Massive 19.9 Kg Tumour From 43-Year-Old Colon Cancer Patient from West Bengal; Know How the Surgery Was Planned.
PET Scan Package to Be Finalised Within a Month
Annasaheb Chavan, chief executive officer (CEO) of the MJPJAY and PMJAY schemes, said:
“The process to include PET scan tests under MJPJAY is underway. The package rates will be finalised shortly and uploaded on the scheme portal. Once that is done, the facility will become available immediately. We expect the tests to be included in the scheme within a month.” AIIMS Delhi Sets Public Healthcare Benchmark With Over 1,000 Robotic Surgeries.
Once the package rates are notified, eligible beneficiaries will be able to undergo PET scan investigations at empanelled hospitals offering the facility.
Government Aims to Promote Early Cancer Diagnosis
Public Health Minister Prakash Abitkar said the decision was taken to ensure that the cost of diagnostic tests does not become a barrier to timely treatment.
“A PET scan is a crucial investigation for cancer diagnosis, but its cost is beyond the reach of many patients. As a result, several people approach hospitals only when the disease has reached Stage IV, when treatment outcomes are often poor. By including PET scans under MJPJAY, we want patients to undergo timely investigations and begin treatment at an earlier stage,” he said.
Doctors said PET scans play a crucial role in identifying the spread and stage of cancer, helping clinicians determine the most appropriate treatment plan. Delayed diagnosis can limit treatment options and reduce survival chances.
Scheme Coverage and Hospital Network
The state currently has around 4,800 public and private hospitals empanelled under MJPJAY, although PET scan facilities are available only at selected centres. Once the package is approved, beneficiaries will be able to access the diagnostic test at eligible empanelled hospitals.
The Maharashtra government is also evaluating 345 charitable hospitals registered under the Maharashtra Public Trusts Act, 1950, for empanelment under the scheme to further expand healthcare access.
The Mahatma Jyotirao Phule Jan Arogya Yojana (MJPJAY) was expanded in 2023, increasing health insurance coverage from ₹1.5 lakh to ₹5 lakh per family. Along with the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY), the scheme currently covers 1,352 medical procedures across public and private hospitals, providing financial protection for eligible families seeking specialised medical treatment.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 06, 2026 09:26 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
