Tamil Nadu CM Launches 'Doorstep Healthcare' Scheme Worth Rs 257 Cr; Aims To Address Non-Communicable Diseases

Under the scheme, 1,264 women health volunteers, 50 physiotherapists and 50 nurses are deployed as the first step to identify about 40 types of diseases and provide treatment at doorstep of patients.

MK Stalin

Chennai: Tamil Nadu chief minister MK Stalin launched ‘Makkali Thedi Maruthuvam’ (healthcare service at the doorstep of the public) in Krishnagiri district on Thursday, under the National Health Mission. Under this scheme, healthcare workers will be visiting people at their houses to treat non-communicable diseases. 

Speaking to reporters, the chief minister said that his government has allotted a sum of Rs 242 crores towards the scheme in the first instalment and about one crore people from 30 lakh families are expected to benefit from the scheme. At present, the public are visiting hospitals for treatment and the scheme is aimed at reversing the situation, he said and added that the scheme will be extended to other parts of the state before the year-end. 

Under the scheme, about 1264 women health volunteers, 50 physiotherapists and 50 nurses are deployed as the first step to identify about 40 types of diseases and provide treatment at their doorstep of patients, he added. 

According to the government order issued by the Tamil Nadu Health and Family Welfare Department,  the programme will be focusing on community-based interventions and it, in turn, will improve compliance and disease control in the state. All the listed beneficiaries of the scheme will be included in the Population Health Registry (PHR) and it will be useful to ensure continuous monitoring and follow-ups of patients, reported Indian Express.  

In the first phase, the scheme will cover 1172 health sub-centres, 189 primary health centres (PHCs) and 50 community health centres in 50 universal health coverage blocks across the state, it added.