The Tamil Nadu State Government is in the process of developing a framework to allow active participation of private sector in healthcare delivery systems in the state to evolve a better healthcare infrastructure for the state and to enable more poor people benefit from the public-private joint healthcare initiatives.
The state has developed strategies for upgrading the quality of critical care services provided at the primary health centres, with the participation of private sector by outsource their services. Already the TNMSC has been entrusted with the job of outsourcing hospital workers, and a few categories of support staff to be placed in the hospitals and other institutions related to the department of health and family welfare.
It may be noted so far, the private participation was restricted to certain segments and programmes like fighting tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS etc., and it had provided fruitful results and made a marginal difference in healthcare delivery in the state, according to Governmnent sources, who note that Tamil Nadu has a long history of voluntary support, and that was crucial in the success of programmes like leprosy control, tuberculosis treatment, immunization projects etc.
The Tamil Nadu government is in the process of strengthening the medical infrastructure in the state as part of an action plan and policy note for the department of health and family welfare for 2003-04 period, unveiled during the last year.
By this, the government has allocated funds for improving the infrastructure at various government hospitals during the action plan period. It includes construction of new building to accommodate labour ward cum ante- natal ward cum emergency operation theatre at Institute of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Government Hospital for Women and Children, Chennai at a total cost of Rs.2 crore, creation of additional infrastructure facilities in 5 Government Medical Colleges for increase of 315 MBBS seats at a total cost of Rs One crore, construction of Mortuary Block at Thoothukudi Medical College Hospital Thoothukudi at a total cost of Rs.62 lakhs, strengthening Barnard Institute of Radiology at Government General Hospital, Chennai at a total cost of Rs 50 lakhs, establishment of computerised network system in Medical College Hospitals and Directorate of Medical Education at a total cost of Rs.50 lakhs, construction of Central Diagnostic Laboratory at Thoothu-kudi Medical College Hospital, Thoothukudi at a total cost of Rs.16.75 lakhs, modernizing the lift at Institute of Child Health and Hospital for Children, Chennai at a total cost of Rs.22.40 lakhs, strengthening Cardio-logy Department at Tirunelveli Medical College Hospital, Tiru-nelveli at a total cost of Rs.24.lakhs, strengthening of Nephrology Department at Coim-batore Medical College Hospital, Coimbatore and Government Rajaji Hospital, Madurai at a total cost of Rs.24 lakhs, provision of Haemo dialysis machine and Plasma separation unit at Annal Gandhi Memorial Hospital, Thiruchirapalli at a total cost of Rs.26.00 lakhs.
Further, for strengthening of government Arignar Anna Memorial Cancer Hospital, Kancheepuram , the government has awarded Rs 20 lakhs, Orthopaedic Department at Government Rajaji Hospital, Madurai by providing C Arm at a total cost of Rs 25 lakhs, strengthening of Epidemiology Unit at Tamil Nadu Dr. MGR Medical University at a total cost of Rs.25 lakhs, supply of Plasmaphoresis unit to King Institute of Preventive Medicine for production of Anti Snake Venom at a cost of Rs 30 lakhs etc.
Besides, in order to render immediate medical care to road accident victims and to safeguard their life, the Accident and Trauma Care Centres at Ambur, Tindivanam, Kovilpatti, Sriperumpudur and Krishnagiri are being strengthened at a cost of Rs 338 lakhs, and the Accident and Trauma Care Centre at the Headquarters Hospital, Perambalur, is being strengthened at a cost of Rs 105 lakhs.