Holding babies, CM Vijay inspects Chennai children's hospital; reviews services

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Joseph Vijay on Wednesday conducted a surprise inspection of the Government Hospital for Children in Chennai, reviewing healthcare services, infrastructure and future expansion plans at one of the state's premier pediatric healthcare institutions.

Accompanied by Health Minister Arunraaj and senior officials, the Chief Minister undertook an on-the-spot inspection of the Egmore hospital's wards, facilities and patient services. During the visit, he also interacted with patients and attendants and sought feedback on the quality of care being provided at the hospital.

Officials briefed the Chief Minister on the hospital's functioning and discussed long-term plans to upgrade infrastructure and construct new buildings to meet future healthcare demands. The discussions focused on strengthening facilities and ensuring the hospital is equipped to cater to the growing number of patients, accordign to officials.

Speaking to reporters after the visit, Health Minister Arunraaj said Vijay had been planning to inspect the hospital for a long time and wanted a first-hand assessment of its operations and infrastructure needs.

During the inspection, hospital authorities and patients' attendants reportedly requested the government to increase the number of washrooms and establish a canteen within the hospital premises. They also sought the addition of more wards, citing a steady rise in the number of patients seeking treatment at the facility.

The visit also brought attention to complaints of corruption within the healthcare system. Health Minister Arunraaj acknowledged that there were still instances of illegal payments being sought by some hospital staff to allow family members to see newborn babies.

Taking a strong stance on the issue, Chief Minister Vijay directed hospital authorities to act immediately against those involved in such practices. He instructed that hospital and ward-level officials should be removed from their positions without delay if credible complaints of bribery are received against them.

The Chief Minister emphasised the need for transparency, accountability, and patient-friendly services in government hospitals, reiterating the government's commitment to improving healthcare infrastructure and ensuring that public health institutions remain accessible and corruption-free.

The Government Hospital for Children in Egmore is among Tamil Nadu's leading pediatric healthcare centres, catering to thousands of patients from across the state every year. The inspection is expected to pave the way for further infrastructure upgrades and administrative reforms at the hospital.

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