Makkalai Thedi Maruthuvam – Doorstep Healthcare Scheme

On August 5, 2021, Tamil Nadu government started a unique Doorstep Healthcare Scheme – Makkalai Thedi Maruthuvam for assisting the patients with treating the non-communicable diseases. This scheme was launched by Chief Minster MK Stalin in Krishnagiri district. Under this scheme, the patients will be able to access health and medical care facilities for home treatment. It thereby aims at avoiding the need of visiting the hospitals for treating the non-communicable diseases. It aims at quick detection of ailments and diseases thereby leading to immediate cure as required. Currently this scheme is launched only for Krishnagiri, Thanjavur, Tiruchi, Tirunelveli, Coimbatore, Chennai, Salem and Madurai districts. It is planned to be extended to cover the entire state by the end of 2021. This is a healthcare scheme launched for the welfare of the citizens. Budget allocated for this scheme is Rs. 258 crores and it tends to benefit about 30 lakhs families in the seven applicable districts for now.

Scheme Overview:

Objectives and Benefits:

• The main objective of the scheme is to treat the patients with non-communicable diseases with all the required health and medical care at home.
• Under this scheme, the patients will be able to access health and medical care facilities at home.
• It will provide medical help to areas with scarce medical resources.
• It will help in easy identification of disease and ailments thereby enabling quicker cure and treatment
• This will also help the patients to avoid the visit to the hospital unless extremely necessary
• The state government will be able to keep a check on the health of the residents
• This scheme will enable to maintain a balance of life and health of the people

Key Points:

• Doorstep Healthcare scheme – Makkalai Thedi Maruthuvam is launched by Chief Minister MK Stalin on August 5, 2021.
• This scheme is launched currently in Krishnagiri, Thanjavur, Tiruchi, Tirunelveli, Coimbatore, Chennai, Salem and Madurai districts.
• Under this scheme the state government will provide medications and medical services and treatments to the residents as required
• It mainly aims to help the people with non-communicable diseases
• This scheme will enable the patients to access health and medical care treatment at home.
• It thereby aims at avoiding the need of visiting the hospitals for treating the non-communicable diseases.
• It will help in quick detection of ailments and diseases thereby leading to immediate cure as required
• Through this scheme, ailments like high blood pressure, diabetes, etc will be diagnosed early, kidney ailments can also be detected.
• This scheme will build a mechanism of health workers, nurses, physiotherapists, etc for providing health and medical services at the doorstep
• About 1,264 women health volunteers, 50 physiotherapists and 50 nurses are already been appointed under this scheme in the first phase
• About 1172 health sub centres, 189 primary health centres and 50 community health centres in 50 universal health coverage blocks will be covered.
• By the end of 2021 this scheme will be expanded to entire state with about 25,000 health and support staff in service.
• Total budget allocated for the scheme currently is Rs. 242 crores
• It aims at benefiting about 30 lakh families counting to 1 crore people in all.
• This is a crucial step in providing health and medical care to the patients through treatment at home thereby avoiding the need to get admitted in the hospitals.
• This scheme will give a boost to the health care mechanism of the state.