Tamil Nadu to Set Up Help Desks at Primary Health Centers

The centers will also feature digital display screens for queue management, health awareness, and announcements to ensure patients' comfort.

All primary health centers (PHCs) in Tamil Nadu will soon have dedicated help desks to guide patients, enhance operational efficiency, and improve overall patient satisfaction, according to the state's director of public health, Dr TS Selvavinayagam.

These help desks will provide quick and accurate information, assist patients with queries, and help resolve issues.

Doctors and staff at PHCs have been instructed to increase efficiency, create a better environment for patients, and digitalize patient records.

Dr Selvavinayagam has directed district health officials to establish a "May I Help You" counter at all health centers, staffed by trained personnel or volunteers familiar with healthcare services and procedures.

These staff members will also distribute informational booklets on available services and the prevention and management of common ailments.

Doctors overseeing PHCs are responsible for ensuring that clear, visible signboards displaying essential information, such as operating hours and staff directories, are available in both Tamil and Braille.

Additionally, all PHCs will be equipped with comfortable seating, clean drinking water, sanitation facilities, and mobility aids for disabled patients.

While PHCs may not handle all types of medical conditions, they are required to provide first aid and stabilize patients when necessary.

Digitalization & Patient Feedback

The centers will also feature digital display screens for queue management, health awareness, and announcements to ensure patients' comfort.

With many PHCs already equipped with computers and internet access, Dr Selvavinayagam stressed the importance of digitizing outpatient records without compromising patient privacy.

Furthermore, staff will collect feedback from patients through suggestion boxes or forms, and the directorate will conduct regular patient satisfaction surveys to continually improve the quality of services at PHCs.

In another development in the state, in July, AstraZeneca India announced a significant INR 250 Cr investment to expand its Chennai campus with a Global Innovation and Technology Center (GITC).

This expansion will boost capabilities in enterprise platforms, AI, machine learning, data science, and supply chain analytics for healthcare.

The facility, currently spanning 3.34 Lakh sq ft at Ramanujan IT Park in Taramani, will add 1.80 Lakh sq ft over the next six months, accommodating 1,300 employees, making it the largest global capability center.

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