Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalityhaa on Tuesday announced a unique health care initiative, Amma Master Health Check-up programme, which will benefit hundreds of thousands of people belonging to the economically backward sections of the society.
In her first major policy announcement after getting elected with a mammoth majority from RK Nagar Assembly constituency near Chennai and assuming Chief Ministership of the State in May following her acquittal in the disproportionate assets case by the Karnataka High Court, Jayalalithaa took the entire AIADMK cadre and the Opposition by surprise with the announcement of the Amma Master Health Check-up and Amma Women Master Health Check-up schemes targeting the economically backward sections in Tamil Nadu.
“Only financially sound sections of the society could undergo Health Check-up in private hospitals. The private hospitals charge between `5,000 and `12,000 for health check-ups and related tests. We are launching the Amma Master Health Check-up programme exclusively for the poor and the downtrodden sections,” Jayalalithaa told the legislative Assembly.
Under the new scheme, people belonging to the lower strata of the society will be able to undergo preventive healthcare tests like blood, urine test, sugar, thyroid, cholesterol screening, liver screening, chest x-ray, diabetes and echo. The scheme is being launched as a pilot programme at Government General Hospital in Chennai at a nominal cost. This will be extended to other general hospitals in the State in the course of time.
For the benefit of women from the lower strata of society, Jayalalithaa announced the Amma Women Special Master Health Check Up which includes a slew of tests like pap smear, digital mammograms.
Amma Arogya Scheme announced by Jayalalithaa envisages free tests for diabetes, blood pressure, ECG, cholesterol and eye-related ailments in 385 primary health centres across the State. Jayalalithaa also announced Amma Pregnancy Sanjeevi, a comprehensive healthcare programme for pregnant women. This includes provision of free nutrient foods and medical care for women during their pregnancy.