Chennai, Tamil Nadu – Tamil Nadu has emerged as a national leader in affordable cardiac healthcare, thanks to its innovative public-private partnership (PPP) model that delivers life-saving cardiac interventions at scale, especially in underserved and rural areas.
Under the Tamil Nadu Health Systems Project (TNHSP) and the more recent Chief Minister’s Comprehensive Health Insurance Scheme (CMCHIS), the state has integrated hub-and-spoke networks of government and empaneled private hospitals to offer free or low-cost cardiac surgeries, angioplasties, and diagnostics to economically weaker sections.
With dedicated cardiac care units (CCUs) set up even in district hospitals, patients no longer need to travel to metropolitan cities for timely treatment. Ambulance-linked referral systems, telemedicine diagnostics, and real-time EHR (electronic health records) tracking have further streamlined emergency cardiac care.
“The model has reduced the fatality rate from cardiac arrests and heart attacks in rural Tamil Nadu by over 40% in the past five years,” says Dr. Meenakshi Natarajan, a senior cardiologist at a government medical college.
A key factor in the model’s success is timely intervention. Patients brought within the critical “golden hour” are stabilized and shifted to higher centers when needed—all cashless under CMCHIS.
This inclusive model is being studied for replication across other Indian states and has already drawn international attention for blending affordability, access, and accountability.
