Subramanian presents health department’s key achievements at Harvard University

CHENNAI: Minister Ma Subramanian gave a presentation on the efficient health systems and achievements of the State Health Department at Harvard University on Tuesday.

He spoke about the primary healthcare, human resources, model drug procurement and distribution system, and flagship schemes such as the Chief Minister’s Comprehensive Health Insurance Scheme (CHIS), Innuyir Kappom Nammai Kakkum 48 Thittam, Makkalai Thedi Maruthuvam and Varumun Kappom Thittam.

He said that CHIS has benefitted 14 million beneficiaries between July 2009 and June 2024 with claims approved for Rs 136.25 billion. Of all the beneficiaries, 4.32 million received care at government hospitals with claims amounting to Rs 49.45 billion.

Under the Innuyir Kappom and Varumun Kappom schemes, Subramanian said that cashless and free emergency treatment was provided for all road traffic accidents irrespective of nationality. “So far, over 2.52 lakh patients have availed cashless treatment on the assurance mode for Rs 2.21 billion,” he said. “Preventive health check-ups are done, which include 25 screening tests on common communicable and non-communicable diseases. Each camp is facilitated by 17 specialists, benefiting over 36.69 lakh people up to 2023-24.”

He explained that under the Idhayam Kappom scheme, emergency cardiac doses were given orally at health sub-centres, which benefitted 8,500 patients. “Since September 2023, over 200 funerals of organ donors have been held with state honours in TN,” stated the minister.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, he recalled that home-bound NCD patients could not continue their daily treatment resulting in a spike of fatalities among patients with comorbidities. To address this crucial challenge, Makkalai Thedi Maruthuvam Scheme was launched.