Free Medical Treatment for All




Chennai , Jun 25 The DMK government in Tamil Nadu today announced free medical treatment in all state-run hospitals from the current year, doing away with the income ceiling to avail the facility. Health Minister M R K Panneerselvam, winding up the debate on grants for his department, said the income ceiling of Rs 1999 per month for the purpose has been done away with, enabling all citizens utilize the government's medical services free of cost. " From the current year, there will be no income ceiling for receiving free medical treatment in government hospitals in the state and this will apply to all," he said to the thumping of desks from treasury benches. The minister said the government also proposed to set up a large blood bank in Chennai at an investment of Rs 400 crore and put in a place a Rs eight crore medical waste management plant. The DMK government came to power in May 2006 after promising a slew of freebies and sops including free CTVs, LPG connections, land for landless laborers and its hugely popular rice for Rs 2 per kg scheme, later revised to Re 1.