{
  "id": 15211673,
  "title": "Maharashtra Expands PET-CT Scan Coverage For Cancer Patients Under State Health Schemes",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/17/maharashtra-expands-pet-ct-scan-coverage-for-cancer-patients-under",
  "topic": "health",
  "section": "Health & Medicine",
  "published": "2026-10-17T13:19:40.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Press Journal",
    "slug": "free-press-journal",
    "url": "https://www.freepressjournal.in/mumbai/maharashtra-expands-pet-ct-scan-coverage-for-cancer-patients-under-state-health-schemes"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Mumbai, October 17, 2026 — The Maharashtra government has broadened the availability of PET-CT scans for cancer patients under two state health insurance schemes, Mahatma Jyotirao Phule Jan Arogya Yojana (MJPJAY) and Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana. This decision aims to alleviate financial strain on patients by reducing out-of-pocket expenses for diagnostic procedures. The Public Health Department has amended 63 cancer treatment packages and classified the PET-CT scan as a standalone diagnostic procedure for 13 specific cancer types. The move expands the availability of PET-CT scans from 44 packages to now cover all 63.\n\nSpecialist doctors must certify the medical necessity of the scan, and empanelled hospitals must possess their own PET-CT centers, requisite equipment, and qualified personnel. Access to PET-CT scans for the 13 specific cancer types will be contingent upon these conditions. The government has fixed the scan prices: a whole-body PET-CT at Rs 20,400, a brain PET-CT at Rs 14,650, a Gallium-68 scan at Rs 15,000, and a cardiac PET-CT at Rs 9,400. Patients are expected to benefit from improved access to timely cancer diagnosis and treatment planning, with the financial burden alleviated for those who qualify.",
  "summary": "Mumbai, October 17, 2026: The Maharashtra government has expanded coverage for PET-CT scans under the Mahatma Jyotirao Phule Jan Arogya Yojana (MJPJAY) and Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana, aiming to reduce out-of-pocket expenses for cancer patients. The Public Health Department has issued a government resolution (GR) adding the investigation to 63 cancer treatment packages and…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}