Amma health schemes to be launched soon: Jayalalithaa

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa on Tuesday said the Government General Hospital here would launch "Amma Master Health Check-up" and "Amma Woman Special Health Check-up" schemes.

Under the Amma Woman Special Health Check-up scheme, pap smear, bone marrow, blood vitamin-D, digital mammogram, calcium tests would be carried out apart from normal tests, Jayalalithaa said.

Announcing this in the state assembly, she said private hospitals charge Rs.5,000-12,000 to carry out these tests which many cannot afford.

Jayalalithaa said the Government General Hospital would charge very low rates for conducting these tests.

According to her, the government would sanction Rs.10 crore to the hospital to acquire the necessary equipment to carry out the tests under the two schemes.

Jayalalithaa said people can get tested their urine and have their blood pressure and ECG taken at primary health centres across the state twice a week free of cost.

If any person is tested positive for any disorder then treatment will be provided free of cost, she added.

For the welfare of pregnant woman, Jayalalithaa announced "Amma Magapperu Sanjeevi" scheme under which a pack containing 11 herbal medicines would be provided.

She also announced the granting of centre of excellence status and referral hospital by the central government to the Cancer Institute located here.

The Cancer Institute would be upgraded at an outlay of Rs.120 crore.

She said a dental college at an outlay of Rs.50 crore would be set up in south Tamil Nadu and a new medical college at Pudukottai.