Chennai: Strengthening access to quality healthcare, chief minister M K Stalin will inaugurate 42 new healthcare facilities worth 359.46 crore on Feb 6, health minister Ma Subramanian said on Sunday.After inaugurating 642 new sub-health centres (SHCs) across TN from Tiruvallur, the minister said other new facilities will be ready soon. These include seven newly-built district headquarters hospitals at Jayankondam, Mayiladuthurai, Rajapalayam, Aruppukottai, Kulithalai, Kangeyam and Tindivanam at a cost of 229.24 crore. Similarly, a govt hospital in Gummidipoondi and 10 new primary health centres worth 11.70 crore will be opened. Microbiology laboratories at Guindy in Chennai, and in Madurai will also be inaugurated.
“SHCs form the backbone of TN’s public health system, particularly in rural and hilly regions,” said Subramanian. State has 8,713 SHCs. One SHC caters to 5,000 people in plains and 3,000 in hilly areas. Based on population studies held over the past three years, govt decided to establish 642 new centres, which will be fully operational in phases in the next 10 days. Tiruvallur district will get 41 new SHCs.Under CSR funds worth 35 lakh, medical equipment was distributed to village health nurses at 41 newly-established HSCs, he said, adding that Doppler devices to monitor foetal heartbeats were provided to nurses at 399 HSCs.Subramanian said 1,178 of 1,256 Nalam Kaakkum Stalin health camps were completed, benefiting 16.74 lakh, and added that govt held more than 40 rounds of talks with protesting doctors in the last 4.5 years and will continue dialogue. Responding to Centre’s announcement on one hostel in every district for women, Subramanian said Tamil Nadu’s welfare schemes had strengthened women’s access to higher education.
