Tamil Nadu Govt Hospital To Offer Free Breast Implant Surgery To Poor Women

tamil nadu

Healthcare in India is still a major cause of upheaval because of reasons more than one. And ill-equipped medical facilities, especially for the marginalised, is just the tip of the iceberg.

But even amidst such dismaying conditions, Tamil Nadu government has worked up a plan for the poor that somehow doesn’t serve the purpose.

In a first, Tamil Nadu government has decided to offer publicly-funded breast implants and reconstruction surgery for poor women. 

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According to Times Of India, the state health department on Wednesday launched a free cosmetic surgery clinic at Government Stanley Medical College and Hospital in a bid to ensure that the possibilities of cosmetic surgery are not restricted to the rich and wealthy.

While the hospital had reportedly been doing breast reconstruction surgeries for cancer victims, they are now extending services to the underprivileged who wish to alter their breast size.

In fact, health minister C Vijaya Baskar advocated that it is only fair. He said, 

“Why should beauty treatment not be available to the poor? If we don’t offer they may opt for dangerous methods or take huge loans for it.”

Even the head of plastic surgery, Dr V Ramadevi vouched for the initiative and said that many women had come to the hospital for breast reconstruction.

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“Women with large breasts had problems including shoulder pain, rashes and fungal infections, but many others wanted surgeries to boost their confidence.”

“I don’t judge women when they seek surgery. If they are fit I recommend.”

However, not everyone is all praises about it. The initiative has drawn flak from several senior public health experts who believe that the government would be wasting funds offering beauty care.

“The scheme sounds populist, but it is not an ideal public health programme.”

Said Former public health director, Dr S Elango. He added, “State funds are required for emerging non-communicable diseases and communicable diseases. It is sad that we are now focusing on beauty instead of life-saving surgeries.”

Although the TN govt is known for its charitable causes and programmes for the poor, the need for breast augmentation, amidst scanty and scarce basic health facilities is worrying. What do you think? Let us know in the comments.

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