Chennai: At least 17 lakh people have undergone free health screening under the Nalam Kaakum Stalin programme launched by chief minister M K Stalin in August 2025. Under the programme, special medical camps were held twice a week, health minister Ma Subramanian said on Saturday.“The state targets on completing 1,256 camps. Over the past 28 weeks, camps were held on Thursdays and Fridays. We completed 1,206 camps. On Saturday, we will add another 32 camps, taking the tally to 1,238. The remaining 18 will be completed next week,” he said.The scheme, he said, was not meant for picking up fever cases or treating colds. It aimed to provide comprehensive health check-ups, which can cost up to 20,000 in private hospitals, at no cost. Health workers conducted blood tests, ECG, echo, X-ray, scans, and screening for conditions including diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, TB, leprosy, and cancers.
