Health department allocates Rs 2.2 crores for purchase of medicines

Chennai: The state health department has allocated Rs 2.2 crores for conducting medical camps in the Gaja- affected delta region including Cuddalore, Nagapattinam, Thiruvarur, Thanjavur, Pudukkottai and Ramanathapuram for the purchase of medicines.

The government had allotted Rs  80 lakhs earlier for the purchase of medicines and other medications in the four severely affected districts, which is now extended to 12 affected districts. Health minister C Vijayabaskar said that based on the requirements of medicines, more funds could be allotted in the affected districts for the purchase of medicines.

The health department has conducted around 3,879 medical camps so far and 41 medical camps are being conducted under the Chief Minister's Comprehensive Health Insurance Scheme. More than 2,38,000 people have been treated in the medical camps with the help of more than 900 medical practitioners currently.

For those who cannot come to the medical camps, mobile medical teams are taking medical services door to door with the help of special teams. Nilavembu Kudineer is being distributed at 234 camps and 7,45,000 people have received the medicine.

The department is taking efforts towards the prevention of vector-borne diseases and 500 gram packets of bleaching powder are being distributed freely in the localities to prevent a rise in mosquitoes and resulting diseases after the recent rains.