Tamil Nadu government to formulate ‘Peri-Menopausal Care Policy’
It aims to enable early identification of the physical and mental health needs of women in the peri-menopausal age group, along with screening, counselling and treatment services.
On August 17, 2026, Tamil Nadu Health Minister K.G. Arunraj announced several healthcare initiatives during the Legislative Assembly session. The government will create a 'Peri-Menopausal Care Policy' to address the health concerns of women in their peri-menopausal stage, which includes early detection, screening, counseling, and treatment services.
Bluetooth-enabled blood pressure monitors will be distributed to pregnant women, enabling real-time data transmission for timely interventions. The policy will target 10,000 pregnant women in 14 districts, including Kallakurichi, Nilgiris, Tirupattur, Dharmapuri, Dindigul, and Namakkal, in the first phase.
In addition to the peri-menopausal policy, the government will launch several other initiatives. The "Irumbu Kanmani" program will be rolled out at a cost of ₹6.37 crore, focusing on anaemia prevention among adolescents. Haemoglobin estimation will be conducted for nearly 16.5 lakh adolescents in government and government-aided schools, followed by appropriate treatment and monitoring.
A rare genetic disease screening for newborns will be introduced, screening for seven genetic conditions in a hub-and-spoke model. A Neo Genesis Unit for extreme low birth weight babies will be established at a cost of ₹16.81 crore. An Autism Early Detection Programme will be launched, screening children for autism spectrum disorder with the help of 12,456 village health nurses and 5,000 doctors.
A Childhood Obesity Prevention Programme and a School Orthodontic Treatment programme will be introduced in five districts. Newborn hearing screening facilities will be established, and the monthly financial assistance for HIV/AIDS-affected children will be increased with an additional ₹1.21 crore allocation. Other announcements include transport ventilators for newborns, modern equipment for human milk banks, mother and newborn care units, and strengthening maternal and child care infrastructure.
Written by urgent.news from The Hindu's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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