Jayalalithaa announces new medical schemes under brand 'Amma'

New scheme will allow people to get free health check-up, pregnant women will get natural medicines like gooseberry powder etc

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa today announced new medical schemes, under the Amma brand. It may be noted, Jayalalithaa's followers address the AIADMK Supermo as Amma, which also means mother.

The new schemes include Amma Master Health Check Up, Amma Woman Special Master Health Check-up, Amma Arogya Scheme and Amma Pregnancy Sanjeevi. The state government has earlier launched series of social welfare schemes including Amma Unnavagam (low cost canteen), Amma Water, Amma Medical shops, Amma Fruits & Vegetables, Amma Cements and others.

Jayalalithaa said that "Amma Master Health Check-up will be launched to facilitate people to go in for master health check-up. Under the scheme, people can undergo various tests to check for diabetes, blood pressure, hepatitis B, abdomen, heart etc at the Government General Hospital in Chennai at a nominal cost."

Under, Amma Woman Special Master Health Check-up scheme, tests including digital mammogram, pap test smear, vitamin D test and thyroid test will be done, apart from other tests.

"The government will allocate Rs 10 crore to Government General Hospital towards purchase of equipment," she said at the Assembly today.

The Amma Arogya Scheme will allow people to access 385 primary health centres to check diabetes, blood pressure, echo cardiogram (ECG), cholesterol and eye-related ailments. All will be done at free of cost.

The Amma Pregnancy Sanjeevi will provide pomegranate and curry leave powder during the first three months of pregnancy to prevent nausea. In the next three months, pregnant women will get natural medicines like gooseberry powder etc to improve the iron content.

"Eleven types of medicinal powders will be given to pregnant women and based on siddha doctors' advice, these will be given. It will cost Rs 10 crore annually to the government," said Jayalalithaa.

Jayalalithaa said that the Centre had accorded sanction to convert the Adyar Cancer Institute in Chennai into a state-level institution and centre for excellence at a cost of Rs 120 crore.