SALEM: A specialised care centre providing end-to-end care to children and young adults suffering from Type 1 diabetes has been inaugurated at the Government Mohan Kumaramangalam Medical College and Hospital (GMKMCH) in Salem on Monday.
The facility, jointly established by the National Health Mission and Idhayangal Charitable Trust, provides high-quality care for those living with Type 1 diabetes.
Presiding over the inauguration, National Health Mission Director in Tamil Nadu A Arun Thamburaj said the government is steadily expanding access to specialised Type 1 diabetes care across Tamil Nadu.
Starting with Coimbatore and Salem, the centres are being rolled out in Thanjavur, Trichy, and Tirunelveli, with a goal to cover all 36 government medical college hospitals across the state's 38 districts.
He said the government is also considering the introduction of the basal-bolus insulin regimen, the global standard for treatment, and emphasised the importance of early diagnosis, timely referrals from PHCs, and the need for adequate infrastructure to support uninterrupted care.
GMKMCH Dean Dr J Devi Meenal noted that the hospital has been steadily enhancing its infrastructure. "Over the past 10 months, six dialysis machines worth Rs 30 lakh have been added.
Also, Rs 13.5 lakh was sanctioned under the Paadham Kaapom Thittam and a hydro extractor has also been procured. With the launch of the Type 1 Diabetes Specialised Care Centre, we are further strengthening specialised care in Salem," she said.
GMKMCH is among the few government medical colleges in Tamil Nadu with a dedicated Department of Diabetology. The addition of this centre has further elevated the institution's role in public diabetes care, added G Prakash, Head of the Department of Diabetology.
Those present at the event included Krishnan Swaminathan, founder of Idhayangal Charitable Trust; Medical Superintendent of GMKMCH R Rajkumar; P Sivasundaram from Rotary Club; and M Ramasamy, founder of Raasi Vidhaigal, who were also part of the initiative.