The state has increased budgetary allocation for the health department to ₹18,661 crore compared to ₹17,902 crore in the last budget, and has decided to expand the Makkalai Thedi Maruthuvam scheme to cover 711 factories and 8.35 lakh workers in the first phase. Under the scheme, health checkups will be held at the factories to screen non-communicable diseases including high blood pressure and diabetes. Migrant labourers also will benefit under the scheme.

The budget has also allocated ₹110 crore for constructing new buildings at the Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Hospital in Trichy and ₹147 crore for a new multi-speciality block, nurses training school and hostel at Government Stanley Medical College Hospital in Chennai.

However, doctors say that funds allocated for the health sector are not as expected. "In 2021–22 the government allocated ₹20,080 crore for the health department. The DMK government before the election had said the allocation for the health department will be increased three times. So it is disappointing now to see it has not increased the allocation," they said.

"It is disappointing that there is no announcement on regularisation of dentists, nurses, health workers and Ayush practitioners who are working on a contract basis," said Dr Ravindranath.

However, doctors welcomed the announcement to inaugurate 1,000 beds at Kalaignar Memorial Multi Super Speciality Hospital in King Institute of Preventive Medicine and Research Centre campus in Guindy this year. The government will also undertake works to improve infrastructure of Siddha Medical College at Palayamkottai at a cost of ₹40 crore.

"Only investment in human resources will help deliver quality health care services to the people. There is no point in developing infrastructure and investing in new equipment without manpower in the hospitals to deliver the service. So it is not going to make any big change," said Dr P. Saminathan, state president of the Service and Post Graduate Doctors Association.

 

Media: Indian Express