Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai
Mumbai, Aug 11: Maharashtra has become the first state in India to establish dedicated Menopause and Polycystic Ovarian Disease (PCOD) Clinics across government health facilities as part of an initiative to strengthen women’s healthcare services.
To review the implementation and improve service delivery, the state organised a State-Level Workshop on Menopause and PCOD Clinics at Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar.
Minister of State for Public Health Meghana Bordikar inaugurated the workshop in the presence of senior Public Health Department officials, Obstetrics and Gynaecology specialists, and representatives from medical colleges and district health institutions across the state.
Bordikar said the initiative seeks to address the growing burden of PCOD among adolescent girls and women of reproductive age, as well as the physical, psychological and hormonal challenges associated with menopause.
The dedicated clinics provide comprehensive services, including screening, counselling, treatment and referrals.
At present, 580 government health facilities across Maharashtra are providing the specialised services. Since the launch of the initiative, more than 1.27 lakh women have benefited from counselling, screening and treatment, making it one of the largest public-sector women’s health initiatives in the country, the minister said.
Speaking at the workshop, Bordikar said menopause is a natural phase in a woman’s life but often remains neglected because of limited awareness and social stigma.
She stressed that timely counselling, early diagnosis and appropriate management can significantly improve women’s quality of life and reiterated the government’s commitment to strengthening women’s healthcare services across Maharashtra.
The workshop featured technical sessions on standardised clinical protocols, counselling methods, diagnosis and management of menopause and PCOD, capacity-building of healthcare providers, and strategies to strengthen referral services and programme monitoring.
Bordikar said the first-of-its-kind initiative reflects Maharashtra’s efforts to advance comprehensive women’s healthcare by ensuring accessible, quality and holistic services for women across different stages of life.