Sat Feb 22 17:32:49 UTC 2025: ## Tamil Nadu’s First Primary Health Center Dialysis Unit Opens
**Chennai, February 23, 2025** – Tamil Nadu has inaugurated its first dialysis unit within a Primary Health Center (PHC), marking a significant step in expanding healthcare access across the state. Located in the upgraded Nandivaram PHC, the unit, established at a cost of ₹1 crore through donations and CSR contributions, features five dialysis machines and five beds. The facility also houses Tamil Nadu’s second State Vaccine Store (SVS), capable of storing 1.6 million vaccine doses.
Health Minister Ma. Subramanian and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Minister T.M. Anbarasan jointly inaugurated the facilities on Saturday. Minister Subramanian highlighted the state’s commitment to increasing dialysis access, noting the addition of 115 dialysis machines in the last three years, with 40 more currently under development. He emphasized the Nandivaram model as a potential blueprint for other PHCs. The government is actively encouraging further private donations to replicate this success.
The SVS’s strategic location in Nandivaram, chosen for its accessibility and proximity to the airport, provides a backup facility in case of emergencies like floods or power outages in Chennai.
The initiative aims to reduce travel burdens for dialysis patients by providing treatment closer to their homes. Patients will be enrolled under the Chief Minister’s Comprehensive Health Insurance Scheme. The government also announced the withdrawal of a walk-in interview plan to recruit specialists, opting instead for recruitment through the Medical Services Recruitment Board examination.
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