CHENNAI: In a bid to tackle non-communicable diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, and cancer in the state, the DMK government has allocated Rs 243 crore for the Makkalai Thedi Maruthuvam programme, in the budget for 2024-25.
Finance Minister Thangam Thennarasu announced the allotment of a sum of Rs 20,198 crore, a jump of 8.2% from the previous year, to the health and family welfare department.
Minister Thennarasu also announced that the threshold to avail free-of-cost treatment within 48 hours of an accident has been doubled, from Rs 1 lakh rupees to Rs 2 lakh, under the Inniyur Kappom: Nammai Kaakum - 48 Thittam.
Presenting the budget, the minister said the government will implement a new cancer management mission that will focus on chalking out disease management strategies, including spreading awareness about the causes of cancer, early detection, effective treatment, and rehabilitative care.
He added a sum of Rs 200 crore from the insurance corpus fund will be used for upgrading infrastructure at GHs.
The GHs at Rameshwaram, Sendurai, Sriperumbudur, Arakkonam, as well as the government medical college hospitals in Theni and Salem will be equipped with six ICUs with 50 beds each, at an estimated cost of Rs 142 crore, Thennarasu added.
He further said a 100-bed ICU will be constructed at the Perundurai Government Medical College Hospital in Erode district, at a cost of Rs 40 crore.
A sum of Rs 87 crore has been apportioned to boost infrastructure of 25 taluk and non-taluk hospitals, with an additional Rs 64 crore to upgrade the Government Dental College Hospital in Chennai. De-addiction centres will be established in 25 government hospitals.
To ensure an equitable progress across the city, under the ‘Vada Chennai Valarchi Thittam’ a super speciality block will come up at the Institute of Child Health and Hospital for Children, Egmore, at a cost of Rs 53 crore; two new blocks at RSRM Hospital, Royapuram, at Rs 96 crore; and the Government Peripheral Hospital in Periyar Nagar will get three floors.
Capital expenditure for key sectors
17,890 cr Roads & bridges
2,966 cr Transport sector
3,767 cr Urban development
Rs 9,535 cr Water supply schemes
4,747 Water bodies
2,810 cr Education & health
