Tamil Nadu plans to expand Master Health Check-up services to Madurai and Coimbatore

The Tamil Nadu government announced plans on Thursday, July 16, 2026, to expand its Master Health Check-up services to major district hospitals, including Madurai and Coimbatore, following high demand at the Kalaignar Centenary Super Speciality Hospital in Chennai. Speaking at an event in Chennai, Health Minister K.G. Arunraj stated that the expansion aims to shift the state's healthcare priority from merely treating diseases to actively promoting preventive health.

According to the Health Minister, the Master Health Check-up facility at the Kalaignar Centenary Super Speciality Hospital has been experiencing such high demand that appointments are being booked well in advance. This success prompted the state government to consider extending the facility to other major government hospitals across the districts.

Minister Arunraj explained that the government's traditional focus has been on recruiting doctors and acquiring advanced medical equipment to improve hospital infrastructure. However, he emphasized that the Chief Minister's vision is to prioritize health promotion, with disease treatment coming next.

The announcement was made during the launch of the book "The 100-Year Blueprint," written by Dr. Navin Gnanasekaran, longevity physician and head of radiology at Apollo Hospitals in Chennai. Minister Arunraj congratulated Dr. Gnanasekaran on his book, published by Pan Macmillan India, calling its focus on healthy ageing the "need of the hour."

During the event, Dr. Gnanasekaran highlighted the rising burden of non-communicable diseases in India. He cited 2024 estimates from the Indian Council of Medical Research showing that one in four Indians is diabetic or prediabetic. He added that the prevalence of diabetes in Tamil Nadu is nearly twice the national average.

Dr. Gnanasekaran urged a focus on healthy ageing through simple lifestyle measures, such as balanced nutrition, adequate sleep, stress management, and building muscle mass, to ensure that years added to life are lived healthily.