Maharashtra To Launch New CMRF Portal, Promises Aid Within 8 Hours
If the documentation is complete, approvals will now be granted within a fixed timeframe of eight hours”: Officials
MUMBAI: The Maharashtra government is set to launch an upgraded online system for the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund (CMRF) to expedite financial assistance for economically weaker patients.
The new platform will ensure that applications for medical aid are processed within eight working hours, significantly reducing delays. In a key reform, empanelled hospitals will submit applications directly to the CMRF cell after verifying documents, eliminating the need for patients or their families to apply. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis is expected to launch the website next week, a senior official said.
At present, patients’ relatives apply for assistance, often submitting incomplete documentation — such as missing PET scan reports in cancer cases—leading to repeated follow-ups and delays. The process currently takes two to three working days. Under the new system, hospitals will upload complete documentation, enabling approvals within the stipulated timeframe and ensuring faster disbursal of aid.
“Over the past year, a series of patient-centric and innovative reforms have been introduced in the functioning of the CMRF and the Charitable Hospital Assistance Cell. Under the new system, once patients submit all required documents at the hospital, the administration will forward the application directly to the CMRF office for approval. If the documentation is complete, approvals will now be granted within a fixed timeframe of eight hours,” an official said.
According to the CMRF, the state disbursed Rs 333.06 crore to 40,776 patients between April 1, 2025, and March 31, 2026.
Rameshwar Naik, head of the CMRF and Charitable Hospital Assistance Cell, said the system aims to ensure timely treatment. “With this development, the application approval process will become faster, providing significant relief to patients.
The new system will soon be inaugurated by the Chief Minister, after which it will be implemented across the state. For more information, needy patients may contact the toll-free number 1800 123 2211,” he said.
Officials said the digital overhaul is expected to improve transparency, efficiency and accessibility of medical aid across Maharashtra.
The CMRF, set up in 1967 as a public trust, provides financial assistance to victims of natural disasters, major accidents and indigent patients requiring medical treatment. In May 2025, it became the first state-run relief fund in India to receive a Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA) certificate, allowing it to accept international donations.