Health Minister Inspects TNMSC Warehouse in Anna Nagar

On Monday, Health Minister K.G. Arunraj visited the Tamil Nadu Medical Services Corporation (TNMSC) warehouse located in Anna Nagar, Chennai. This facility is the largest in the city, responsible for distributing drugs and medical equipment to government hospitals within the Greater Chennai Corporation limits. Minister Arunraj emphasized the need for improvements in the system, particularly in achieving real-time stock updates at various hospital levels, including primary health centers and government medical colleges.

In light of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, the Minister mentioned that precautionary measures are being discussed to handle potential shortages in drug supplies and essential raw materials for drug manufacturing. He also highlighted the importance of ensuring uninterrupted power supply for critical hospital equipment like ventilators, stating that coordination with the Electricity Department is underway as per the Chief Minister's directives.

Additionally, Dr. Arunraj addressed the backlog in issuing licenses for approximately 8,000 private hospitals and clinics under the Tamil Nadu Clinical Establishments Act, which has been pending since 2019. He noted that resolving these delays could have generated significant licensing fees and stressed the importance of streamlining these processes for transparency.

Health Secretary Darez Ahamed assured that the Directorate of Public Health and Preventive Medicine is implementing necessary measures across hospitals, airports, and seaports in line with advisories from the World Health Organization and the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. Preparations for quarantine centers are also underway, with Deputy Directors of Health Services actively involved.