CHENNAI: In a major boost to transport and health infrastructure, Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami said the transport department would soon induct 2,000 new buses. He also announced critical care units in 32 districts besides drug vending machines and upgradation of primary health centres.
Making a slew of announcements under rule 110 in the Assembly on Wednesday, Mr. Palaniswami said the new buses would be purchased at a cost of Rs. 600 crore and they would be launched this fiscal. About 10 government transport corporation depots would be modernised at a cost of Rs 50 crore.
Aiming to improve the healthcare services in government hospitals, the government would launch a new initiative — “My Hospital My Pride” and tie up with corporates. Announcing initiatives worth `500 crore in the health sector, he said a Rs 120 crore worth Centre of Excellence would be established at the Arignar Anna Memorial Cancer Hospital in Kancheepuram, aiming to improve health services to people.
Among the announcements under the health sector were: providing 12 integrated health services to people, including disease prevention and pain alleviation, additional Primary Health Centres and urban PHCs would get a Rs 105 crore facelift and be named Wellness Centres, new buildings for 296 sub-health centres at a cost of Rs 79.93 crore under the wellness for all scheme and upgradation of Erode District Government Headquarters Hospital into a Super Specialty Hospital at an estimate cost of Rs 67.76 crore.
Under the Tamil Nadu Accident and Emergency Care Initiative, a “multi-disciplinary critical care unit” will be set up in each hospital in 32 districts at a cost of Rs 49.01 crore, he said.
A Rs 40 crore rehabilitation centre at K. K. Nagar in the city for patients recovering from accidents, Rs 16 crore linear accelerator for Salem Government Mohan Kumaramangalam Medical College Hospital besides steps to provide counseling in 22 medical college hospitals, to prevent suicidal tendencies through '104' toll free number by setting up a Counselling Centre at a cost of Rs 6.72 crore, were among the other announce-
ments.
