TN Assembly: CM’s health insurance cover hiked 5-fold to Rs 25 lakh; shot for infrastructure

CHENNAI: Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay on Wednesday announced a five-fold increase in the annual coverage under the Chief Minister’s Comprehensive Health Insurance Scheme, raising the sum assured from Rs 5 lakh to Rs 25 lakh. Making a series of announcements under Rule 110 in the Assembly, he also declared that a 400-bed multi-speciality hospital of international standards would be established in his Assembly constituency, Perambur, at Rs 300 crore.

Outlining initiatives to bolster the state's healthcare system, the Chief Minister emphasised that medical care is a fundamental right, not a privilege. He stressed that the government aims to remove barriers to quality healthcare, regardless of income or location.

"The sum assured under the Chief Minister's Health Insurance Scheme will be enhanced from Rs 5 lakh to Rs 25 lakh. Treatment facilities for transpersons will be expanded at seven government medical college hospitals — Stanley Medical College in Chennai, Tirunelveli, Thoothukudi, Chengalpattu, Tiruvarur, Dharmapuri and Kanniyakumari," he said.

To address a shortage of medical staff, Rs 351 crore will be invested to create 6,098 additional student seats in nursing and pharmacy programmes. This includes establishing seven new government nursing colleges — set up after a gap of 12 years — alongside expanding capacity in existing institutions.

The Chief Minister's Cancer Care Mission will be upgraded at a budget of Rs 677.44 crore. Additionally, a new integrated cancer treatment unit (G+4 floors) will come up at the Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital in Chennai for Rs 471.80 crore.

Five Regional Cancer Care Centres are planned for Thanjavur, Coimbatore, Madurai, Tirunelveli and Villupuram, with Madurai getting the first facility in the initial phase.

Announcing the introduction of robotic treatment in government hospitals, the Chief Minister said robotic surgery facilities, linear accelerators and modern equipment would be provided at Rs 106.17 crore. HPV DNA testing for women will also be introduced in Dharmapuri, Villupuram, Tiruvannamalai and Perambalur at Rs 8.70 crore to prioritise early detection of cervical cancer risks.