The Tamil Nadu government’s flagship scheme Makkalai Thedi Maruthuvam (MTM) may be drawn up on a door-to-door screening model for early detection and treatment of non communicable diseases such as diabetes and hypertension, but health officials have now raised a key necessity that needs to be put in place, to achieve disease control: diagnosed persons should visit the nearest Primary Health Centre (PHC) once in two months to get their parameters checked.
As per the Health Department MTM’s coverage so far has been: 1,00,49,180 persons covered for first-time services and 2,93,22,468 persons under repeat services, as of May 5.
Through MTM, which was launched in August 2021, a home-based healthcare services for line-listed beneficiaries is provided. These include the delivery of drugs for hypertension and diabetes, as well as palliative care, physiotherapy services and Continuous Ambulatory Peritoneal Dialysis services. Once persons are screened and identified as having diabetes and hypertension, they are given medications after the confirmation of the diagnosis, by medical officers. The drug initiation is done as per protocols, officials said.
