Tamil Nadu Announces Major Healthcare Package Worth ₹2,997 Crore

The Tamil Nadu government has unveiled a new health insurance programme for close to 38 lakh senior citizens aged 70 and above, as part of a broader ₹2,997 crore healthcare package. The announcement combines financial protection for the elderly with preventive screening initiatives, digital health tools, infrastructure upgrades, and policy-level reforms.

Health Minister Dr. K.G. Arunraj outlined 115 separate initiatives for the state’s Health Department during a session in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly, spanning healthcare access, workforce expansion, diagnostic capacity, and technology-driven services.

Free Treatment for Senior Citizens Regardless of Income

At the centre of the package is the proposed Chief Minister’s Elderly Health Insurance Scheme, which will offer free medical treatment to residents aged 70 and above irrespective of their income level. Beneficiaries will be able to seek care at empanelled government and private hospitals, with coverage expected to extend to cancer treatment, advanced cardiac procedures, organ transplants, and high-end diagnostic services — offering meaningful financial protection for older adults who require complex, high-cost care.

Annual Health Check-ups for Adults Aged 30 and Above

Preventive care also features prominently in the announcement. Under the new ‘Nalam 360 – Annual Free Health Check-up for All’ initiative, residents aged 30 and older will be entitled to 14 basic diagnostic tests each year, delivered through 1,257 government health facilities across the state.

The test panel includes blood pressure monitoring, ECG, haemoglobin levels, complete haemogram, random blood sugar, urea, creatinine, total cholesterol, serum bilirubin, urine albumin, and VIA screening.

Home Diagnostics and a New Mobile Health App

To improve access further, the state plans to introduce Home-Based Diagnostic Services in major urban centres through a public-private partnership model, allowing sample collection and testing to take place closer to residents’ homes.

A companion ‘Nalam 360’ mobile application is also in development, forming part of a broader Positive Health Policy aimed at supporting health and wellbeing at the individual, family, and community level.

TN Medicity and a New Public Health Law on the Horizon

Among the more ambitious long-term proposals is TN Medicity, envisioned as a large integrated hub bringing together clinical care, medical research, medical tourism, and AYUSH services under one roof. An initial allocation of ₹10 crore has been set aside to prepare its Detailed Project Report.

The state also intends to replace the decades-old Tamil Nadu Public Health Act, 1939, with updated legislation designed to address present-day and emerging public health challenges.