Maharashtra Health Minister Prakash Abitkar on Monday warned of strict action, including filing FIRs, against hospitals found charging patients under state-run cashless health schemes, emphasising that beneficiaries should not pay “a single rupee” for treatment.

According to PTI, while addressing the state assembly during the ongoing Maharashtra Budget Session 2026, Abitkar said the government had examined nearly 368 complaints of hospitals demanding payments from patients covered under the schemes and has recovered penalties of Rs 60 lakh so far.