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WASHIM

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Last updated on 26 July 2025. Help us improve the information on this page by clicking on suggest edits or writing to us.

Washim’s healthcare landscape, like many other regions across India, is shaped by a mix of indigenous and Western medical practices. For centuries, indigenous knowledge and treatments provided by practitioners such as hakims and vaidyas have formed the foundation of healthcare in the region. This long standing relationship between communities and their natural environment played a key role in shaping the district’s early medical traditions. Over time, its landscape has gradually evolved with the introduction and expansion of more specialized medical services.

Healthcare Infrastructure

Much like other regions in India, Washim’s healthcare infrastructure follows a multi-tiered system that involves both public and private sectors. Currently, the public healthcare system is tiered into primary, secondary, and tertiary levels. Primary care is provided through Sub Centres and Primary Health Centres (PHCs), while secondary care is managed by Community Health Centres (CHCs) and Sub-District hospitals. Tertiary care, the highest level, includes Medical Colleges and District Hospitals. This system has been shaped and refined over time, influenced by national healthcare reforms. 

Clinics in Washim. Source: OpenStreetMaps (Sept. 2025)
Hospitals in Washim. Source: OpenStreetMaps (Sept. 2025)

Supporting this structure is a network of Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs) who, as described by the National Health Mission, serve as “an interface between the community and the public health system.” Over time, this multi-layered healthcare model has been continuously shaped and refined by national healthcare policies and reforms, with the aim of improving service delivery and health outcomes across regions.

Three Tiered Structure in the District

Historically, Washim was part of the larger Akola district before it was carved out as a separate district. Although detailed records are limited, early medical services in the region likely included government-established dispensaries and small rural health units, similar to other districts during the British period.

Today, the District Civil Hospital in Washim remains as a major facility in the district, which provides emergency care, outpatient and inpatient services, and some specialised treatments. In addition, a Sub-District Hospital operates in Karanja block and a Community Health Centre serves the Risod area. Together, these facilities form part of the wider three-tiered structure alongside Primary Health Centres and Sub Centres spread across rural areas.

District Hospital, Washim[1]
District Hospital, Washim

Over the years, private hospitals and smaller clinics have gradually emerged in Washim, providing additional services alongside the government network. Some of these facilities now offer multispecialty care and alternative treatments such as Ayurveda. Among them, notably, the Shrikrupa Hospital is known for providing non-surgical kidney care using traditional Ayurvedic methods.

There have been many reports that indicate that the district continues to face persistent issues in basic capacity and maintenance. The District Annual Plan (2020–21) noted that more than half of the sanctioned posts for Medical Officers, Staff Nurses and Auxiliary Nurse Midwives remained vacant at the time. The Sub-District Hospital in Karanja block, although designated for 100 beds, continued to run with only 50 due to staff shortages. The Community Health Centre in Risod, with space for 30 beds, was also reported to be in poor condition.

Age-Old Practices & Remedies

Before the introduction of Western medical systems and the formal three-tiered healthcare structure now in place, communities in Washim relied on local medicinal knowledge and household remedies for everyday health needs. India has long maintained a pluralistic health tradition, where practices such as Ayurveda, Unani, and folk medicine have shaped family and community care. Many of these older practices remain in use today, passed down through generations.

In Washim district, various plants continue to be used for minor ailments. Brahmi leaves are locally known for managing menstrual discomfort. Lasun Kand leaves are used for treating perforations in the eardrum, while Tarota seeds are used to help ease asthma symptoms.

Bramhi leaves[2]
Bramhi leaves

A distinctive household practice, that locals speak of in the district, involves preparing a Kadha using two varieties of local crabs, bhora khekada and kala khekada, boiled with turmeric and salt. This crab-based decoction is used by some indigenous communities for general ailments, showing how natural resources are adapted into community health routines alongside more familiar plant-based treatments.

A traditional Kadha prepared with local crabs, turmeric, and salt, still used in some households of indigenous communities in Washim for treating common ailments. (Source: CKA Archives)
A traditional Kadha prepared with local crabs, turmeric, and salt, still used in some households of indigenous communities in Washim for treating common ailments.

NGOs and Initiatives

The determinants of health and health outcomes, as the World Health Organization (WHO) elaborates, are not solely shaped by more than just medical factors and healthcare services. The organization uses the term “social determinants of health (SDH)” to refer to the “non-medical factors that influence health outcomes.”  These non-medical factors can be sanitation, nutrition, community well-being, or, as the WHO outlines, income and social protection, food security, access to quality healthcare, and more.

While there have been ongoing efforts to strengthen Washim district’s healthcare infrastructure, certain areas still face challenges, particularly in addressing these broader health determinants. In response, non-governmental organizations have emerged as vital partners, working alongside public health systems to develop innovative, grassroots-level approaches that bridge these gaps.

Universal Versatile Society

The Universal Versatile Society (UVS) is a non-profit organisation working on community development in Washim. Accredited by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), and holding Special Consultative Status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council, UVS undertakes activities across several social sectors.

Its programmes are shaped by local fieldwork and data collection and address areas such as regenerative agriculture, education, mental health, women’s empowerment and support for the elderly.

Universal Versatile Society at a Mental Health awareness session.[3]
Universal Versatile Society at a Mental Health awareness session.

A key focus for UVS in Washim is mental health, particularly among farmers who often face high levels of stress. The organisation’s approach is structured in phases that include promoting positive mental health, identifying suicide risk, managing risk cases, and training community members. By creating local awareness and offering support systems, UVS contributes to improving mental health care and resilience in the district.

Graphs

Healthcare Facilities and Services

Morbidity and Mortality

Maternal and Newborn Health

Family Planning

Immunization

Nutrition

Sources

Gokhale Institute of Politics and Economics (GIPE). 2019. Public Infrastructure and Policy Report: Washim District 2018-19. GIPE, Pune.https://gipe.ac.in/wp-content/uploads/2024/0…

Government of Maharashtra. District Civil Hospital, Washim. Washim District Official Website.https://washim.gov.in/en/public-utility/dist…

M Choksi, B. Patil et al. 2016. Health systems in India. Vol 36 (Suppl 3). Journal of Perinatology.https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC514…

National Health Mission (NHM). "About Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHA)." National Health Mission, India.https://nhm.gov.in/index1.php?lang=1&level=1…

Social determinants of health. WHO.https://www.who.int/health-topics/social-det…

Universal Versatile Society. About Us. Universal Versatile Society.https://www.uvsociety.org/about-us

Universal Versatile Society. Mental Health Initiatives. Universal Versatile Society.https://www.uvsociety.org/areas-of-work/ment…

Last updated on 26 July 2025. Help us improve the information on this page by clicking on suggest edits or writing to us.