Tamil Nadu Budget 2026: Healthcare spending continues to rise in State
However, the health announcements in the Budget fell short to address the need to increase manpower
In the Tamil Nadu State Budget for 2025-2026, presented on August 5, 2026, by Finance Minister N. Marie Wilson, healthcare spending saw a 6.62% increase from the previous year. The budget allocation rose to ₹23,357 crore, a 6.6% hike from ₹20,197 crore in 2024-2025. The increased spending focused on various aspects of public health, including geriatric care, maternity services, and cancer treatment.
Key highlights include the establishment of 1,000 Mobile Geriatric Treatment Centres across the state. Each centre will be staffed by a doctor, nurse, and physiotherapist, offering free health check-ups and chronic medication to senior citizens in villages. The budget also allocated ₹33 crore for these centres, which will be introduced in phases.
For maternity care, the government introduced "Thai Care" centres, offering pregnant women free meals, medical support, and continuous health monitoring as they prepare for delivery. These centres, costing ₹23 crore, will provide comprehensive care to expecting mothers.
A "Hub-and-Spoke" telemedicine system was also announced, aiming to provide specialised medical care to remote and rural areas. Five central hubs, staffed by specialist doctors, will be linked to 200 spokes at Primary Health Centres and government hospitals through an online network. Over five years, this network will grow to 1,000 hubs and spokes.
Cancer care remained a priority, with the allocation of ₹18.5 crore for a "Hub-and-Spoke" medical system. Five zonal cancer care hospitals will be established, conducting cancer research and development. Additionally, the budget increased healthcare expenditures by ₹100 crore to ensure a steady supply of medicines.
However, the budget announcement did not address concerns over increasing healthcare manpower. The Tamil Nadu Nurses Empowerment Association criticized the budget, stating that it lacked provisions for nurses, including regularised services for those on consolidated pay and new recruitments.
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