Chennai: Amma health centre’s panacea for patients

Chennai: S. Sumathi, 45, (name changed), a daily wage labourer from Guduvancherry, has reason to thank the Amma Master Health Checkup Centre, at the Tamil Nadu Government Multi Super Speciality Hospital. Her breast cancer was detected at an early stage and she has been undergoing treatment here for the past few months.

“I am happy that the breast cancer was detected at the initial stage itself. Based on the suggestion of the doctors and experts at the Centre, I am undertaking treatment and on way to recovery,” Sumathi said.

Like Sumathi, many women and men have benefited from the Centre located in the Omandurar Government Estate. The centre was opened in June 2018 by the Chief Minister, and has screened nearly 8,000 people so far.

More than 60 types of tests and screening are done under one roof and it looks better than many corporate hospitals. Tests that may cost Rs 25,000 to Rs 30,000 in some private hospitals, cost a fraction of that amount here.

The centre treats various ailments including cancer, diabetes and thyroid. More than 650 cases of type-two diabetes have been detected and are undergoing treatment. Some 60 tests are available at the centre, and doctors and experts offer free consultation and provide medicine. Four breast cancer patients underwent operations and have recovered.

Patients come here from various districts in the state for screening. A Arunadevi, 45, of Krishnagiri, said, “I learnt about the centre recently through friends. The doctors and staff were courteous. They have detected tiny stones in my kidney; it’s the first time I came to know about this. They have offered consultation and medicine.”

Four doctors provide consultation at the centre and 21 paramedical staff and technicians, including a radiologist, a cardiologist for ECHO, five lab technicians, an ECG technician, an Echo technician and two radiographers work in the centre.

Assistant surgeon Dr M. Ambika, said ovarian cancer is the second most common disease among women in the country. The centre has detected many women with this cancer and provided them treatment. A vaccine is also available to prevent this ailment.

If needed, patients are referred to the Tamil Nadu Government Multi Super Speciality Hospital.

The centre also monitors patients after they are discharged from the hospital, Dr Ambika said.

Based on the feedback, the Centre has been improving its facilities. Recently, a ThinPrep Pap test, a modified Pap test technique designed to reduce some of the technical problems inherent in the traditional type of Pap smear, was introduced.

The Naturopathy and Life Style clinic at the centre has become very popular, with around 40 people visiting it every day, according to public relation officer, Dr V. Ananthkumar.

The Centre was set up with the intention of providing expensive medical facilities to people at a nominal cost. Dr Ananthkumar said.