Tamil Nadu has been at the forefront of climate action for several years, setting up the country’s first climate-focused public agency—the Tamil Nadu Green Climate Company. The state launched four key climate missions, each centred on sustainability.
Building on this momentum, the government recently initiated the One Health and Climate Hub, a pioneering step that brings climate and health together. Supriya Sahu, Additional Chief Secretary, Department of Health and Family Welfare, Government of Tamil Nadu, explains that the move was a natural evolution, as multiple sectors—from environment to animal health—are converging toward a common concern: human well-being. She emphasized that the One Health concept, now gaining global traction, recognizes the deep interconnections between environmental, animal, and human health.
Governance Experience: A Strategic Advantage
Sahu, who previously served as Additional Chief Secretary in the Environment, Climate Change and Forest Department, notes that her earlier role was instrumental in shaping her perspective. She says it gave her unique insight into how departments like forest, health, agriculture, and animal husbandry are intricately linked. Her time in that position revealed how meaningful convergence between these seemingly siloed sectors could lead to transformative outcomes in public health.
Breaking Silos: The Challenge of Collaboration
According to Sahu, encouraging collaboration across departments is complex, largely because the One Health concept is still emerging in India. Many officials are not yet fully aware of the challenges and opportunities. However, she notes that the COVID-19 pandemic helped build awareness of zoonotic diseases and their capacity to disrupt health systems and the environment.
Departments are now more alert and responsive. Sahu cites a recent interdepartmental workshop as an eye-opener—it revealed overlapping areas where collaboration is not just possible but necessary. For example, sewage surveillance, as practised in Bengaluru, is now being explored as a tool to detect early signs of viral or bacterial outbreaks. She pointed to this as an example of how unconventional partnerships can enhance disease surveillance and preparedness.
Emissions and Health: Measuring the Footprint
Acknowledging the environmental impact of healthcare itself, Sahu confirms that emissions from the sector are on the radar. The state has already developed a greenhouse gas inventory—one of the first of its kind in India—which identifies sectoral contributions to emissions. While healthcare isn’t among the top contributors, she stresses the importance of examining its footprint.
Going forward, Tamil Nadu plans to use the findings from its inventory to study emissions from health facilities and develop greener practices. The goal, she says, is to ensure that health infrastructure evolves in line with the state’s broader sustainability objectives.
SDG 3: Building on Strength, Addressing Gaps
Tamil Nadu has historically led the way in public health. Sahu notes that the state’s dedicated public health wing, over a century old, remains unmatched in its reach and effectiveness. Despite this strong foundation, she acknowledges that certain Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3 indicators still need improvement.
Anaemia, particularly among women and children, remains a significant challenge. This condition also contributes to maternal mortality rates. Tuberculosis is another priority area, where early detection, treatment adherence, and death rate reduction require continued effort. Sahu says the government is actively working to address these gaps through targeted initiatives and strengthened service delivery.
Post-COVID Resilience: Health at the Doorstep
While the pandemic poses immense challenges, Sahu believes it also presented an opportunity to build stronger, more resilient healthcare systems. Facilities across Tamil Nadu—at primary, secondary, and tertiary levels—have been fortified to respond to future outbreaks and climate-linked health risks.
One standout initiative is Makkalai Thedi Maruthuvam (MTM), which translates to “Healthcare at the Doorstep”. This community-driven programme focuses on non-communicable diseases like diabetes, hypertension, and cancer. Volunteers, including trained women from self-help groups, conduct home visits to identify early symptoms and encourage timely checkups.
Sahu highlights the success of this initiative, which has already reached over 2 crore people. She describes MTM as a three-pillar model centred on community engagement, early diagnosis, and early treatment—a model that is transforming healthcare delivery in the state.
Leveraging AI: A Technological Leap Forward
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is already playing a major role in Tamil Nadu’s healthcare strategy. According to Sahu, the state is using AI to detect tuberculosis with significantly higher accuracy than manual methods. She emphasises its value in remote areas where radiologists and specialists are often unavailable.
While caution is necessary to prevent false positives or negatives, Sahu believes AI offers immense potential for early diagnosis and quality care. Tamil Nadu has also launched a dedicated AI Mission, with health as one of its key sectors. In the coming years, she expects to see several new AI-driven innovations shaping the future of healthcare in the state.
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