The Tamil Nadu Government plans to set up a hospital and medical college in the heart of Chennai, on the site originally meant for the new legislature and Secretariate.

In a `Suo Motu’ statement in the Assembly today, the Chief Minister, Ms J. Jayalalithaa announced that a multi super specialty hospital and a government medical college would come up in the Omandurar Government Estate on Anna Salai in the heart of the city where the previous DMK government planned to establish the new Secretariat.

The hospital to provide specialty treatment free to the needy would be set up in the 97,829 sq.m building where earlier the legislature and other departments were to come. This building does not have adequate space for all the 36 departments of the Government. The Secretariate cannot also operate from two different facilities, she said.

The hospital would match the facilities available at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences in New Delhi, modern equipment would be procured, medical experts and other personnel appointed and would soon commence operations.

The medical college would come up in the adjacent `Block B’ buildings that are under construction.

The free, specialty medical treatment to be provided at the hospital would be a component of the comprehensive, public healthcare facilities being provided in the State. The State Government is implementing the Tamil Nadu Health System Project and the National Rural Health Mission, and is in the process of implementing a comprehensive medical insurance scheme.

The State Government has also announced a number of initiatives including upgrading the primary healthcare centres as 30-bed hospitals, earmarking Rs 55 crore to buy modern equipment for district hospitals under the TN Health System Project, a Rs 100-crore super specialty centre at the Tiruchi Mahatma Gandhi Government Hospital and a dedicated office building for the directorate of food and drug controller.

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