Latest news with #TNGMSSH
The Hindu
28-07-2025
- Health
- The Hindu
Government multi super speciality hospital rolls out affordable screening for cancer
The Advanced Master Health Check-up centre of Tamil Nadu Government Multi Super Speciality Hospital (TNGMSSH), Omandurar Estate has launched a screening programme for early detection of cancer. According to a press release, the centre, which was inaugurated on June 8, 2018, offers four types of packages - Gold, Diamond, Platinum and Platinum Plus at a cost of Rs. 1,000, Rs. 2,000, Rs. 3,000 and Rs. 4,000 respectively. Complete blood count, blood sugar, urine analysis, lipid profile, Liver Function Test, Renal Function Test, Thyroid Function Test, bone profile, ECG, ECHO, X-Ray, ultrasound, Dexa scan, eye test, treadmill test and lung function test are being carried out. So far, more than 75,000 persons have been screened at the centre. With the incidence of cancers on the increase, the centre has launched a 'Titanium' package to screen for tumour markers. TNGMSSH's director R. Mani launched the new package on July 23. By conducting a simple blood test, occult tumours can be detected in its early stages before symptoms appear. The package costing Rs. 2,500 can detect more than 10 types of cancers at an early stage. In private laboratories, the tests would cost around Rs. 20,000 to Rs. 25,000, the release said. Titanium cancer screening package includes blood tests for tumour markers such as Prostate Specific Antigen for prostate cancer, CA 125 for cancer of the ovary, CA 19.9 for cancer of the pancreas, Alpha Feto Protein for cancer of the liver, thyroglobulin for cancer of the thyroid along with pap smear for cervical cancer and mammogram for breast cancer. An oral examination and doctor consultation is also included. An ENT specialist has been appointed for oral and laryngeal screening. In case a person requires a follow-up test after a few months, the centre has customised the cancer screening tests in a way that the required test alone can be done, doctors said.
The Hindu
25-04-2025
- Health
- The Hindu
16-year-old girl undergoes robot-assisted heart surgery at Tamil Nadu Government Multi Super Speciality Hospital
It was a few months before her Class 12 Board Examination that 16-year-old Aarthi (name changed) was diagnosed with atrial septal defect (ASD), after she complained of dizziness and fatigue. Days after the exam ended, the girl underwent robot-assisted ASD closure surgery at the Tamil Nadu Government Multi Super Speciality Hospital (TNGMSSH), Omandurar Estate, and is now back on her feet, eagerly looking forward to her exam results. TNGMSSH surgeons said this was the first time a robot-assisted surgery for ASD closure had been done in the government sector in India. 'Till now, we have been performing beating heart surgeries robotically,' Meenakshi Sundaram, Head, Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, TNGMSSH, said. Aarthi was raised by a single mother, who works at a roadside pushcart eatery. She was diagnosed with ASD at a private hospital. 'There, they said she should undergo the surgery at the earliest and that it will cost more than ₹3.5 lakh,' her mother, who gets a daily wage of ₹400, said. They approached TNGMSSH in January, where doctors examined Aarthi and told her to come after board exam ended. She wanted her surgery done during the holidays and was keen on returning to normal activity at the earliest, so as not affect her studies. Doctors said this was a congenital heart defect, and the symptoms could show up later in life as was the case with Aarthi. With TNGMSSH having a robotic surgery centre, doctors performed a robot-assisted ASD closure surgery on her on April 3. She was fit for discharge on the fourth day after the operation, Dr. Meenakshi Sundaram said. Robot-assisted surgery has its benefits, he said, adding that the surgery was done through a 5-cm incision on the chest. It provides faster recovery, shorter hospital stay, and patients do not have scars. In private hospitals, open surgery for ASD closure would have cost around ₹5 lakh, while robot-assisted surgery would cost ₹15 lakh to ₹20 lakh, he said, adding: 'Here, the procedure was covered under the Chief Minister's Comprehensive Health Insurance Scheme.' Around 100 patients with cancer and over 60 patients with cardiac ailments have benefitted from robotic surgery at TNGMSSH so far, a press release said. Apart from Dr. Meenakshi Sundaram, the surgical team comprised Abinayavalavan and Ezhilan from the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery and Kumar, Head, Department of Anaesthesiology, and Deepthi and Kalaivani from the department.
