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Tamil Nadu has greatly improved access to cutting-edge medical procedures through its state health insurance scheme. Over 18,000 patients have undergone cutting-edge procedures such as organ transplants under the Chief Minister’s Comprehensive Health Insurance Scheme (CMCHIS), with the state spending over ₹1,500 crore so far.
The eight top procedures covered by CMCHIS are kidney transplant, liver transplant, heart transplant, heart-lung transplant, lung transplant (single and double), cochlear implantation, auditory brainstem implantation, and bone marrow transplant/stem cell transplant.
According to official data, a total of 18,182 people have benefited from 11 January 2012 to 30 November 2025, with the total amount sanctioned under the scheme being ₹1,556.35 crore.
Among the procedures covered, kidney transplants accounted for the highest number of recipients (6,524), followed by cochlear implants (6,276). In terms of amount spent, the highest expenditure (₹515.83 crore) was on liver transplants. Under CMCHIS, ₹22,00,000 is allocated for liver transplantation.
Officials said the medical expenses, over and above the sum assured of ₹5,00,000 for these procedures, were met from the CMCHIS Corpus Fund.
The corpus fund is increased by deducting 27% from the CMCHIS claim amount from state hospitals.
M. Edwin Fernando, Professor and Head, Department of Nephrology, Government Stanley Medical College Hospital, said, “Organ transplants can cost a fortune in the private sector. A kidney transplant can cost ₹8 to ₹10,000 in any top hospital. In the government sector, the entire process – starting from processing the donor, examining the recipients and all the other post-transplant investigations and cross-matching the transplants. a relative donor.”
He said it is a boon for people from marginalized sections of society. “Finance is not a limitation for them in accessing procedures such as kidney transplants,” he added.
Mohan Kameswaran, Executive Director and Chief Surgeon, Madras ENT Research Foundation, said more than 5,000 children have received cochlear implants under CMCHIS in the state.
“This is a phenomenal number for a government-sponsored program. We must remember that all the children who received cochlear implants came from families below the poverty line who never had access to such treatment. The system addressed social disparities. The investment is most cost-effective because it benefits the children who make up the future society,” he said.
According to him, Tamil Nadu is at the forefront of reaching the largest number of children with cochlear implants through the government-sponsored programme.
“Many states followed the model. From there, we need to do two things. The state should implement a universal program for newborn hearing, which is already in practice in all developed countries and many developing countries. When we catch (hearing problems) early, treatment results are better. Likewise, we need to expand the habilitation network in the state. Children travel long distances for habilitation in every district around the university, and we need cochlear implantation to have a medical satellite. habilitation centers that it will give children better access,” he said.
Published – 30 Dec 2025 0:22 IST
