Archive · 19 Aug 2026
Tamil Nadu Raises Health Insurance Cover, Announces Major Projects
Tamil Nadu plans to give people more financial help for medical treatment.
The state health insurance scheme will cover up to ₹25 lakh each year instead of ₹5 lakh.
The government also plans to build a large hospital in North Chennai.
Transgender people will get support for certain medical and surgical services.
More seats will be added for students studying nursing and pharmacy.
The state will spend more money on cancer treatment and early detection.
New cancer centres and advanced machines will be provided.
The chief minister said healthcare should be available to everyone, regardless of income or location.
Tamil Nadu will raise annual CMCHIS coverage from ₹5 lakh to ₹25 lakh.
A 400-bed multispeciality hospital will be built in Perambur, North Chennai, at an estimated cost of ₹300 crore.
Transgender individuals will receive insurance support for specialised medical and surgical services at seven government medical college hospitals.
The state will invest ₹351 crore to add nursing and pharmacy seats, including through seven new nursing colleges.
Cancer-care upgrades include ₹677.44 crore for the Cancer Care Mission, a ₹471.80 crore unit in Chennai, and five regional centres.
- Who
- Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay announced the measures.
- What
- The state will increase CMCHIS coverage and fund new hospitals, medical training capacity, transgender healthcare, and cancer-care facilities.
- When
- The announcement was made on Wednesday and published on August 19, 2026.
- Where
- The projects will be carried out across Tamil Nadu, including Chennai, Perambur, Tirunelveli, Tuticorin, Kanyakumari, Thanjavur, Coimbatore, and Madurai.
- Why
- The government says the measures are intended to remove barriers to quality healthcare and address shortages in medical staff.
- Insurance coverage
- Annual CMCHIS coverage will increase from ₹5 lakh to ₹25 lakh.
- New hospital
- A 400-bed multispeciality hospital will be built in Perambur, North Chennai, for an estimated ₹300 crore.
- Transgender healthcare
- Specialised medical and surgical services will be supported at seven government medical college hospitals.
- Nursing and pharmacy education
- ₹351 crore will fund additional seats, including seven new nursing colleges and expanded capacity at existing institutions.
- Cancer Care Mission
- The mission will be upgraded with a budget of ₹677.44 crore.
- Chennai cancer unit
- A new integrated cancer treatment unit will be established at Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital for ₹471.80 crore.
- Regional cancer centres
- Five regional cancer centres will be established, including in Thanjavur, Coimbatore, and Madurai.