Pilot clinic to open in Chennai amid rising infertility rates; new bill for Siddha university in the works
Chennai: In a significant step towards integrating traditional and modern healthcare, the Tamil Nadu Health Department will soon launch Siddha-based fertility clinics on a pilot basis, beginning with the Government Siddha Hospital in Chennai. The announcement was made by Health Minister Ma Subramanian during an event marking International Yoga Day.
The initiative aims to offer holistic, affordable, and accessible fertility care as infertility rates continue to rise. Tamil Nadu has already set up three allopathic fertility clinics in Chennai, Coimbatore, and Salem. The Siddha-based alternative seeks to complement these services by tapping into centuries-old traditional knowledge.
Speaking to The Times of India, Subramanian said, “I read an article by a doctor from this institution who said Siddha medicine textbooks written centuries ago prescribe drugs to treat infertility. We will soon start a Siddha clinic for fertility on this campus.”
The state is also renewing its push to establish a dedicated Siddha medical university. Though the Tamil Nadu Siddha Medical University Bill was passed in April 2022, it was later withdrawn after the Centre flagged discrepancies with the National Commission for Indian System of Medicine Act, 2020. The bill was forwarded to the President for assent but has since stalled.
“We will place the new bill in the coming assembly session,” Subramanian confirmed.
Tamil Nadu stands out as the only state in India with government colleges in all five Indian medical systems, including Siddha, Ayurveda, Unani, Yoga & Naturopathy, and Homoeopathy. The government also plans to fill vacant doctor positions in these streams to strengthen traditional healthcare delivery.
