Thoothukudi: Tamil Nadu Minister for Public Health, Ma. Subramanian, announced that all sanctioned doctor posts in government medical college hospitals, government hospitals, and taluk hospitals will be filled within the next 10 days.
MRI Scans Installed in 18 Government Hospitals
Speaking at an event at Thoothukudi Government Medical College Hospital on Tuesday, the Minister inaugurated a new MRI scan facility and several hospital buildings across the district. He noted that the State government had prioritized modernising medical infrastructure, having installed MRI machines—each worth ₹7 crore—in 18 government hospitals over the past four years. Installation at Dharmapuri Government Medical College Hospital is currently nearing completion.
Patients will be charged only ₹2,500 for MRI scans, compared to ₹8,000 in private centres. Additionally, beneficiaries of the Chief Minister’s Comprehensive Health Insurance Scheme will receive the scan free of cost.
PET CT Facilities Expand for Cancer Care
The Minister also highlighted the availability of PET CT scan services in five medical college hospitals—Tirunelveli, Kancheepuram, Coimbatore, Salem, and Thanjavur—to aid in cancer detection and treatment. These services will soon be available in Thiruvallur, Villupuram, Tiruchi, and Chennai’s Kalaignar Centenary Super Specialty Hospital.
Postgraduate Doctors to be Deployed Across Hospitals
While addressing staffing concerns raised by District Collector K. Elambahavath, Mr. Subramanian assured that steps are already in place to appoint doctors with postgraduate degrees to taluk and medical college hospitals. He also confirmed that all 2,286 primary health centres in the state already have sanctioned doctors in place.
Massive Infrastructure Development Underway
In the last four years, the government has constructed 1,474 hospital buildings across Tamil Nadu. The Minister mentioned that the ₹136.15 crore super-specialty block, a seven-storey facility with 650 beds, is under construction at Thoothukudi Government Medical College Hospital and will be completed soon.
The Tamil Nadu government has also requested funds from the Union Government for establishing 50 new primary health centres and 500 health sub-centres.
Foundation Laid for 23 New Hospital Buildings
Minister Subramanian, along with MP Kanimozhi, laid the foundation stone for 23 new hospital buildings to be constructed across the district at an estimated cost of ₹19.23 crore.
Kanimozhi commended the Minister’s efforts and confirmed that a PET CT scan facility would soon be sanctioned for Thoothukudi Government Medical College Hospital, as part of the state’s aim to bring government hospital services on par with private healthcare.
Other Dignitaries Present
Ministers P. Geetha Jeevan and Anita R. Radhakrishnan were also present during the event.
