Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis’s initiative aims to test solutions based on community needs
Mumbai, October 2026 : Maharashtra is developing a state-level ‘Living Lab’ to promote healthcare innovation and improve the quality of health services, complementing the state’s vision of “Health for All”. The initiative, conceptualised by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, will focus on improving healthcare standards, ensuring compliance with quality benchmarks and creating opportunities for skill development and employment for people across the state.
The platform aims to identify local healthcare priorities, develop solutions in collaboration with communities and test innovative approaches within real-world healthcare systems. Through the Living Lab, the state government seeks to bring together the expertise and capabilities of government agencies, healthcare providers, the private sector, academic institutions, innovators and development partners to strengthen existing healthcare systems and treatment pathways.
The initiative will also leverage emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, digital healthcare, data analytics and precision health, to improve the delivery and quality of medical services.
An important opportunity under the initiative lies in connecting the reach and capabilities of the private healthcare sector with public health priorities. By encouraging the participation of multiple stakeholders, the platform will facilitate the development of practical, affordable and accessible solutions tailored to local requirements.
The effectiveness of successful interventions will be assessed to determine their potential for expansion across Maharashtra and other regions. In subsequent phases, the initiative will also explore opportunities for local skill development, employment generation and entrepreneurship linked to the healthcare needs of communities.
Rather than focusing solely on the adoption of new technologies, the Living Lab will emphasise ensuring that innovations reach every citizen, including people in remote areas and communities with limited access to healthcare.
Through collaboration among the government, communities, innovators and partner organisations, the platform aims to test promising solutions, rapidly analyse the lessons learned and expand interventions that improve the quality and equity of healthcare delivery.
The Living Lab will serve as a platform for generating evidence and fostering collaboration. Community needs and local ownership will remain central to the process, while coordination between innovators, healthcare systems and frontline service providers will be strengthened.
An early example of this approach is Manyata, a flagship initiative of the Federation of Obstetric and Gynaecological Societies of India (FOGSI). The programme complements the government’s efforts to strengthen maternal healthcare and demonstrates how a quality-improvement model developed within the private sector can work alongside the public healthcare system.
The MSD for Mothers initiative is coordinating efforts to bring together a group of partners to develop this collaborative model. The partnership will focus on translating innovative ideas into practical and sustainable solutions that strengthen healthcare systems.
Through the proposed Living Lab, Maharashtra aims to establish a collaborative framework in which community-driven priorities, technological innovation and evidence-based interventions can work together to improve healthcare quality and access across the state.
