Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin has on Thursday launched a health scheme, which is the first-of-its-kind in India, taking healthcare to the doorsteps of the people. A pioneering scheme that goes by name of 'Makkalai Thedi Maruthuvam' is the DMK government's flagship initiative, which was promised by the party in the 2021 state assembly polls. The scheme has now been rolled out four months after MK Stalin assumed office and will gradually be implemented across the state. 

The scheme has come at a high time when Tamil Nadu is in an imperative state of augmenting its healthcare infrastructure and developing medical facilities in rural areas. The Chief Minister has launched the scheme at Samanpalli village in Krishnagiri district on Thursday. Initially, the scheme would be available in eight districts including Krishnagiri in the first phase of the flagship project and the government has aimed to extend the scheme across the state by the year-end. 

For the first phase, the government has earmarked a total of Rs 242 crore and one crore people will be benefitted from this scheme. After launching the scheme, the Chief Minister said, "The first of its kind scheme in the country will include physiotherapy-related therapies, testing, and providing medicines to the poor and for non-communicable diseases at their doorsteps." He said that the scheme would change the form of preliminary healthcare delivery taking it to the doorstep of the people. 

The healthcare scheme will screen those above 45 years of age and others through door-to-door check-ups. The Chief Minister said that women public health workers, women health volunteers, physiotherapists,  and nurses will provide healthcare at the doorstep of the people. The scheme is one of the seven visions of the state government. He added that people don't have to visit the hospital as they will get access to medicine and screening at their doorsteps. 

Along with Krishnagiri, the districts of Chennai, Coimbatore, Salem, Trichy, Madurai, Thanjavur, and Tirunelveli will have this healthcare scheme and in the first phase, as many as 1,164 women volunteers will be roped in and 25,000 medical teams will be established. "We will achieve 'Anaivarukkum Nala Vazhvu' (good health for all) target within this year-end", MK Stalin added. The Chief Minister further said that through this scheme, high blood pressure and diabetes will be screened and monthly medicine will be provided at the doorsteps of the people. 

The scheme also includes the screening of kidney ailments and congenital defects in children. According to IANS, Tamil Nadu Health Minister Ma Subramanian, who present at the event in Krishnagiri, said that this is a major scheme of the DMK government and Chief Minister MK Stalin. The government is planning to implement the scheme across the state and an estimated 25,000 healthcare workers would be inducted for the scheme. 

The Chief Minister has also inaugurated three vehicles for the use of physiotherapists and handed over artificial limbs worth Rs 2 lakh each to two people. While MK Stalin launched the scheme in the Krishnagiri district, it was simultaneously launched in Chennai by Minister of Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowment PK Sekar Babu and Greater Chennai Corporation Commissioner Gagandeep Singh Bedi.