What did Tamil Nadu’s budget have for the health sector? Premium

Tamil Nadu's 2025-2026 budget focuses on health sector, with increased allocation for cancer prevention and early detection initiatives.

Compared to 2024-2025, Tamil Nadu allotted a little more for the health sector in its budget for 2025-2026, maintaining its focus on non-communicable diseases (NCD), particularly cancer. The allocation for health rose by 8.4% -- from ₹20,197.40 crore to ₹21,906 crore. While a few announcements are welcome, experts say the budget falls short of addressing some of the crucial issues in the State’s health sector.

Similar to last year, cancer prevention and management remains one of the priority areas for the State government. One of the main announcements is the provision of HPV vaccination to all girls aged 14 years to prevent cervical cancer. An amount of ₹36 crore was allocated for 2025-2026. Another announcement was to take screening for major cancers and heart diseases to women closer to their homes, through mobile medical teams in collaboration with NGOs for which ₹40 crore was allotted. To introduce early cancer detection using advanced diagnostic methods, the government plans to enhance medical equipment and manpower in secondary care facilities and medical college hospitals at a cost of ₹110 crore over the next three years.

The Government Arignar Anna Memorial Cancer Hospital and Research Institute, Karapettai, Kancheepuram district, which was designated as a State-level nodal cancer centre, is set to be upgraded and function as an autonomous facility with 800 beds, offering cancer diagnosis, treatment, palliative care and other services. A sum of ₹120 crore will be provided for the next two years.

Among other announcements, ₹1,092 crore was allocated to the Dr. Muthulakshmi Reddy Maternity Benefit Scheme, ₹1,461 crore for the Chief Minister’s Comprehensive Health Insurance Scheme (CMCHIS) and ₹348 crore for ambulance services. The National Health Mission has been allocated ₹2,754 crore.

A number of doctors and health activists welcomed the decision of the State government to provide HPV vaccination for girls. Malliga J.S., head of preventive oncology at Cancer Institute (WIA), Adyar, said for a State government to focus on the prevention of cervical cancer and roll out the HPV vaccination was landmark. “This is the right step forward. We hope that all eligible girls are covered with vaccination and this becomes a sustainable programme covering new cohorts,” she said. Noting that screening is equally important for the prevention of cervical cancer, she said she also hoped that HPV DNA testing would be rolled out in the future.

Cervical cancer, she said, was the second commonest cancer in women in the State, and it still was the top cancer in a few districts.

Priya Kapoor, consultant, surgical oncology, Apollo Proton Cancer Centre, Taramani, noted that the allotment of funds for early cancer detection and screening were important steps as early detection was crucial for treatment of cancer. “The cost of treatment for a person diagnosed with stage I breast cancer is around ₹4 lakh, while it is around ₹15 - 20 lakh for a person with stage III cancer. Doing a screening mammogram every year costs ₹1,500. So, screening and early detection makes it cost-effective; the benefits are immense. The government allocating funds for this purpose is the way ahead,” she said.