TN Budget: FM allots Rs 21,906 crore to health dept; Rs 31 crore for HPV shots for girls
The FM also announced upgrading government cancer hospital in Kanchipuram to Centre of Excellence; health experts praised govt's efforts to upgrade cancer care
One of the key announcements made by the Tamil Nadu finance minister Thangam Thennarasu in the budget 2025-26 is the allocation of ₹21,906 crore to the state Health and Family Welfare Department.
Out of this total amount, ₹2,754 crore has been allocated for schemes, which will be implemented through the National Health Mission in the state by the department.
Also read: Tamil Nadu Budget 2025-26 Live: 'No compromise on two-language policy; TN will bear the cost'
Cancer care
To give more support for the state's battle against cancer, the FM has also announced that the Government Arignar Anna Memorial Cancer Hospital and Research Institute in Kanchipuram will be upgraded to a 'Centre of Excellence'. The state government has set aside ₹120 crores to upgrade the hospital and improve the infrastructure and research facilities.
A total of ₹110 crores has been allocated for early detection and timely treatment of cancer and improved treatment outcomes.
In a significant move, a sum of ₹36 crores has been allocated by the Tamil Nadu government for providing Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccinations to all girls aged 14 years in a phased manner to reduce the risk of cervical cancer.
Responding to the announcements of cancer care and the establishment of the Arignar Anna Memorial Cancer Hospital and Research Institute as a centre of excellence, public health expert and former director of Public Health and Preventive Medicine Dr K Kolandaisamy described the move as "very significant" in terms of providing affordable cancer treatment to the patients in the public sector at a dedicated cancer care facility.
"As the cancer screening is being increased across the state by the government, it is important that the treatment facilities are upgraded and patients need not depend on private hospitals for the treatment. The center will be very useful for the patients who are identified to be suffering from cancer after the screening. The institute can also be used for academic purposes for training the government medical college students in cancer care," he added.
Meanwhile, Dr G R Ravindranath, secretary of Doctors' Association for Social Equality also praised the government's announcements for upgrading cancer care in the state. However, he urged that the implementation of the health schemes should not be privatised.
Regular screening
In order to further improve the healthcare services for women and boost its health screening services for which it had received an UN award, the government will provide ₹40 crores to mobile medical teams to work in collaboration with NGOs to screen women for major cancer diseases, heart diseases and provide counselling on lifestyle changes near their homes.
Lauding the flagship health scheme of the state government, 'Makkalai Thedi Maruthuvam', finance minister said that it has benefitted over 2.2 crore people in the state through home visits and screening individuals for non-communicable diseases including hypertension and diabetes.
The state was awarded with the 'United Nation Interagency Task Force Award' for implementing the scheme towards addressing the rising incidence of non-communicable diseases.
