CHENNAI: Strengthening Tamil Nadu’s public healthcare infrastructure and workforce, Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay on Tuesday launched the ‘Nalam TN’ portal to mobilise corporate and philanthropic funding for government hospitals, inaugurated medical infrastructure and advanced equipment worth Rs 139.47 crore, and handed over appointment orders to 2,144 healthcare personnel selected through the Medical Services Recruitment Board (MRB).
The Chief Minister launched the digital platform at a function organised by the Health and Family Welfare Department at the Presidency College campus here. Designed under the Tamil Nadu Health Foundation, the portal seeks to channel Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) funds and voluntary contributions from charitable organisations, alumni of government medical colleges and individual donors for upgrading infrastructure and medical facilities in government hospitals across all 38 districts. The platform allows donors to make secure and transparent contributions directly to hospitals of their choice.
The initiative received its first major contributions on the day of the launch, with Caplin Point Laboratories and Apollo Hospitals committing Rs 1 crore each under their CSR programmes, while Titan Engineering and Automation contributed Rs 60 lakh towards hospital infrastructure. In a symbolic gesture, S Sathya of Chennai donated Rs 1,000 through the portal’s QR-code facility to the Institute of Obstetrics and Gynaecology and Government Hospital for Women and Children, Egmore, expressing gratitude for the care she and her newborn daughter received during childbirth two years ago.
Vijay also dedicated to public use new medical buildings and sophisticated healthcare equipment developed at a cost of Rs 139.47 crore. The projects include a four-storey expansion housing a 30-bed Intensive Care Unit and 180-bed general medicine wards at Government Kilpauk Medical College and Hospital, a new block at the Government Headquarters Hospital in Paramakudi, additional facilities in government hospitals at Avudaiyarkoil, Nilakkottai, Batlagundu, Pattiveeranpatti and Kariapatti, 78 newly constructed Primary Health Centres and Health Sub-Centres across the State, and advanced medical equipment procured for the Paramakudi hospital.
The Chief Minister also handed over appointment orders to 751 Assistant Medical Officers and 1,393 Health Inspectors who were selected through the Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission (TNPSC).
The appointments are expected to fill vacancies in the public health system and strengthen healthcare delivery across Tamil Nadu. Officials said the newly appointed personnel would be posted in various government healthcare institutions to enhance medical and preventive health services.
On the recruitment front, the Chief Minister distributed appointment orders to 751 Assistant Surgeons, completing the latest phase of appointments to strengthen staffing at Primary Health Centres and Urban Primary Health Centres. He also issued appointment orders to 1,393 Grade-II Health Inspectors, who will serve on the frontline of the State’s public health system, undertaking disease surveillance, outbreak investigations, vector-control measures, environmental sanitation, drinking water quality monitoring, implementation of national health programmes and public health awareness campaigns.
Health Minister KG Arunraj, Chief Secretary M Sai Kumar, Health Secretary Darez Ahamed, Tamil Nadu Health Systems Project Director S Uma, National Health Mission Director Aneesh Sekhar, MRB Chairperson R Alagumeena and other senior officials attended the event.