TN to focus on improving access to healthcare

Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalithaa on Tuesday said Chennai would soon become India's health capital in accordance with the holistic measures being adopted in healthcare by the southern state.

In line with this committment, the sector saw a 67 per cent rise in annual budgetary allocation to Rs 6,511 crore.

Addressing the silver jubilee convocation of Dr MGR Medical University here, she said the progress and universal coverage in healthcare was key to Tamil Nadu's prominence in the country, since the state's productivity depends on the health and well-being of its people.

"With this principle in mind, my government is committed to dedicating the building at Omandurar Estate as a multi-specialty hospital to meet the health needs of the common people by offering the best possible yet affordable treatment. A medical college will also be started to augment the number of physicians and create 'health assets'. Post Graduate courses will be offered to create more specialists," Jayalalithaa said.

In the current year, the state was able to get 410 additional MBBS seats in the government medical colleges, taking the overall seats from 2,145 to 2,555 this year. It had opposed the introduction of the common national entrance-cum-eligibility test, which according to it goes against the interests of students in the state.

Tamil Nadu claims to be one of the best performing states and has already achieved the National Rural Health Mission/Reproductive Child Health goals.