‘Nalam TN’ gets donations to tune of ₹2.8 crore: Arunraj

Introduction

The Tamil Nadu Health Department has raised ₹2.8 crore in donations within days of launching the Nalam TN online portal. Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay launched the portal on July 14, 2026, to allow corporations and the public to contribute funds toward improving government hospital infrastructure across the State. Health Minister K.G. Arunraj announced the fund collection on Friday, July 17, 2026, during an official inspection at Kilpauk Medical College Hospital. Alongside the digital portal, the government is expanding artificial intelligence tools for outpatient bookings, upgrading specialized medical units through corporate social responsibility partnerships, and preparing for new healthcare announcements in the upcoming State Budget.

Background

The recent funding initiatives trace their origins to a Government Order issued on August 1, 2025. This order established the Tamil Nadu Health Foundation as a company under Section 8 of the Companies Act, 2013. The foundation was created following an earlier Assembly announcement by the then Health Minister to channel corporate social responsibility activities toward strengthening the infrastructure of government hospitals operating under the Tamil Nadu Health Systems Project. The newly launched Nalam TN portal serves as a digital extension of this framework, with Health Minister K.G. Arunraj promising 100 percent transparency in how the contributed funds are utilized.

Latest Developments

During his inspection tour on Friday, July 17, 2026, Health Minister K.G. Arunraj inaugurated a hyperbaric oxygen therapy unit at the Department of Hand Reconstruction and Microsurgery at the Tamil Nadu Government Multi Super Speciality Hospital. The unit was established through corporate social responsibility funding from the Rotary Club of Madras at a cost of ₹2 crore. It currently serves over 1,978 patients being treated for chronic and varicose ulcers.

During his inspection at Kilpauk Medical College Hospital, Minister Arunraj discussed restoring a portion of the CEMONC building that was affected by Chennai Metro Rail works. He instructed officials to obtain a structural stability certificate from IIT-Madras before proceeding with further restoration steps.

The State is also integrating digital technology into daily hospital operations. A WhatsApp chatbot service named Nalam AI has been utilized by 1,25,000 people across 22 districts to register for outpatient services and obtain outpatient slips. This outpatient booking feature has also been made available at the Department of Respiratory Medicine at Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital, where 500 people have booked appointments so far. Additionally, Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital features an operational QR code-based complaint system for reporting unclean toilets. The system immediately alerts a supervisor and escalates the issue to the Dean if it remains unresolved within 30 minutes.

Key Facts

• The Tamil Nadu Health Foundation was established under Section 8 of the Companies Act, 2013, via a Government Order on August 1, 2025.
• Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay launched the Nalam TN online portal on July 14, 2026.
• The Health Department received ₹2.8 crore in donations through the Nalam TN portal within days of its launch.
• Health Minister K.G. Arunraj announced the ₹2.8 crore donation milestone on Friday, July 17, 2026.
• Minister Arunraj inaugurated a ₹2 crore hyperbaric oxygen therapy unit at the Tamil Nadu Government Multi Super Speciality Hospital, funded by the Rotary Club of Madras.
• The new hyperbaric oxygen therapy unit serves 1,978 patients with chronic and varicose ulcers.
• The Nalam AI WhatsApp chatbot has been used by 1,25,000 people across 22 districts for outpatient registration.
• Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital has recorded 500 outpatient bookings via Nalam AI at its Department of Respiratory Medicine and utilizes a QR code system for reporting unclean toilets.
• The upcoming State Budget will feature an announcement regarding evening clinics.

Conclusion

The ongoing health sector updates in Tamil Nadu demonstrate a concerted effort to blend digital public administration with targeted infrastructure investments. By leveraging corporate social responsibility through the Tamil Nadu Health Foundation and the Nalam TN portal, the State is securing vital funds for public health facilities. Simultaneously, the expansion of the Nalam AI chatbot and the introduction of accountability tools like QR code sanitation tracking at Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital reflect a broader push to modernize patient services. These developments, supported by institutional oversight from figures like Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay and Health Minister K.G. Arunraj, aim to enhance medical care delivery across State-run institutions as authorities prepare for upcoming budget announcements.