DPH clarifies health scheme benefited over 1 crore people

Chennai: With reference to the news report, 'Data duplication skews health scheme results,' published in these columns on Tuesday, director of public health Dr T S Selvavinayagam said the Makkalai Thedi Maruthuvam scheme implemented since August 2021 has reached 1,00,00,693 people for first-time services and 2,39,85,825 people under repeat services till December-end 2022.

The news report was about a study authored by Dr Selvavinayagam, in the state public health journal, which said that multiple data entries in the MTM portal, population health registry, and national portal by the women health volunteers in the field using multiple sources such as excel sheets, spreadsheets were "ending up in duplication of entries and [were] not helpful for appropriate follow-up."

He added that the entire supervision network appeared to be broken and uncoordinated. However, on Tuesday, Selvavinayagam said nowhere did the review mention that 1 crore beneficiaries were not reached.

"It is wrongly mentioned by the media to create sensation and belittle the achievements done by thousands of doctors, staff nurses, mid-level, health providers, village health nurses and women health volunteers. We are reviewing the quality of our data so that we can have a complete line list of the beneficiaries and their details for better follow-up," he said.

"This is the only programme in the country to have reached more than one crore beneficiaries. No evidence seen for such a programme globally."