Thiruvarur district, set in the lush heart of the Cauvery delta, represents both the promise and the challenge of public healthcare in Tamil Nadu. Known for its fertile plains, temple towns, and traditional agricultural economy, Thiruvarur’s health infrastructure has evolved over the years from small rural dispensaries to a more structured network of district, taluk, and private hospitals. Yet, in a district where over 80% of the population still depends on agriculture, the importance of accessible, affordable healthcare cannot be overstated.
The Ayushman Bharat – Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY), implemented in convergence with Tamil Nadu’s Chief Minister’s Comprehensive Health Insurance Scheme (CMCHIS), has become an essential component of healthcare delivery in Thiruvarur. This collaboration ensures that eligible families in both rural and semi-urban pockets of the district can receive advanced medical care without financial burden.
Thiruvarur: Geography, Economy, and Health Indicators
Thiruvarur is one of the central districts of Tamil Nadu, bordered by Nagapattinam, Thanjavur, and Pudukottai. The region is part of the Cauvery delta, known as the “Rice Bowl of Tamil Nadu.” Paddy fields dominate the landscape, nourished by an intricate system of irrigation channels from the Cauvery and Vennar rivers.
The district has a population of around 12.5 lakh, spread across 573 villages and 10 blocks. Agriculture and allied activities remain the main livelihood source, with paddy, pulses, and sugarcane being major crops. Due to the district’s dependence on seasonal monsoons and irrigation releases, incomes often fluctuate, and this directly affects how families manage medical expenses.
Health indicators show gradual improvement over the last decade. Maternal and infant mortality rates have declined due to increased institutional deliveries, while immunisation coverage has risen to above 95%. However, the district still faces recurring challenges — such as seasonal outbreaks of vector-borne diseases, waterborne infections during monsoon months, and the rising prevalence of diabetes and hypertension among the middle-aged population.
Public Healthcare in Thiruvarur: The Foundation
The public healthcare system forms the backbone of Thiruvarur’s health network. The District Headquarters Hospital (DHQH) at Thiruvarur town is the main referral centre, supported by six taluk hospitals in Mannargudi, Valangaiman, Kudavasal, Nannilam, Needamangalam, and Koothanallur.
There are also 40+ Primary Health Centres (PHCs) and 240+ Health Sub Centres spread across rural panchayats. These centres handle outpatient services, maternity care, immunisation, and referral coordination for higher-level treatment.
The government has also strengthened mobile medical units in riverine and interior delta villages — ensuring that communities in flood-prone areas or farmlands get basic medical screening and emergency support.
Private Healthcare and PMJAY Empanelment
While Thiruvarur is not as commercially developed as urban districts like Chennai or Coimbatore, it does have a growing private healthcare presence in Mannargudi and Thiruvarur town. Several small and medium-sized multi-speciality hospitals, maternity centres, and diagnostic clinics operate here, many of which are empanelled under PMJAY–CMCHIS.
These empanelled private hospitals complement the public network by offering procedures in areas like orthopaedics, ophthalmology, obstetrics, dialysis, and general surgery. For high-end specialties such as oncology or cardiac care, patients are typically referred to hospitals in Thanjavur or Tiruchirapalli, where PMJAY cards are also valid.
As per local health department records, over 30 hospitals in Thiruvarur district (including public and private) are approved under PMJAY. The District Headquarters Hospital, Mannargudi Government Hospital, and select private institutions like A G Hospital, Mannargudi are among the top empanelled centres.
| District | Hospital Name | Location / Taluk | Contact Number | Specialties / Services | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tiruvarur | Govt Hospital Kodavasal | Kodavasal | 960050116 | gh.kodavasal@gmail.com | Paediatric Surgery, Critical Care, Neonatology, General Surgery, Polytrauma, Psychiatry, Radiation Oncology, Surgical Oncology, ENT, Burns, Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery, Paediatrics, Neuro Surgery, Pulmonology, Nephrology, Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Cardio Thoracic Surgery, Paediatric Cancer, Orthopaedics, Neurology, Dental, Cardiology, Ophthalmology, General Medicine, Medical Oncology, Genitourinary Surgery |
| Tiruvarur | Govt Hospital Needamangalam | Needamangalam | 9940934757 | needamangalamgh@gmail.com | Cardio Thoracic Surgery, Paediatrics, Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Radiation Oncology, General Surgery, Burns, Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery, Dental, General Medicine, Cardiology, Neurology, Paediatric Cancer, Medical Oncology, Neuro Surgery, Pulmonology, Orthopaedics, Ophthalmology, Surgical Oncology, Polytrauma, Nephrology, Genitourinary Surgery, ENT, Critical Care, Neonatology, Paediatric Surgery, Psychiatry |
| Tiruvarur | Govt Hospital Valangaiman | Valangaiman | 9942423623 | gh.valangaiman@gmail.com | Radiation Oncology, Cardiology, Paediatric Cancer, Paediatric Surgery, Cardio Thoracic Surgery, Paediatrics, Ophthalmology, Neuro Surgery, Medical Oncology, Neurology, Burns, Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery, Orthopaedics, ENT, Pulmonology, Genitourinary Surgery, General Medicine, Critical Care, Surgical Oncology, Polytrauma, Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Dental, Neonatology, General Surgery, Nephrology, Psychiatry |
| Tiruvarur | Govt Hospital Koothanallur | Koothanallur | 9524513125 | gh.koothanallur@gmail.com | Nephrology, Ophthalmology, Dental, Burns, Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery, Polytrauma, Neurology, Pulmonology, ENT, Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Surgical Oncology, Genitourinary Surgery, Paediatric Surgery, General Surgery, General Medicine, Cardio Thoracic Surgery, Paediatrics, Orthopaedics, Cardiology, Radiation Oncology, Neuro Surgery, Critical Care, Psychiatry, Paediatric Cancer, Neonatology, Medical Oncology |
| Tiruvarur | Govt Hospital Vijayapuram | Vijayapuram | 9443863903 | gh.wchhospital@gmail.com | Radiation Oncology, Pulmonology, Medical Oncology, Neurology, Orthopaedics, Nephrology, Ophthalmology, Genitourinary Surgery, ENT, Neonatology, Polytrauma, General Medicine, Cardiology, Cardio Thoracic Surgery, Paediatrics, Paediatric Cancer, Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Paediatric Surgery, Neuro Surgery, Dental, Critical Care, Burns, Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery, Surgical Oncology, Psychiatry, General Surgery |
| Tiruvarur | Govt Muthupet UPHC | Muthupet | NA | NA | — |
| Tiruvarur | Govt Thiruvizhimizhalai UPHC | Thiruvizhimizhalai | NA | NA | — |
| Tiruvarur | Govt Ullikottai UPHC | Mannargudi | NA | NA | — |
| Tiruvarur | Govt Poonthottam UPHC | Nannilam | NA | NA | — |
| Tiruvarur | Govt Alathambadi UPHC | Alathambadi | NA | NA | — |
| Tiruvarur | Govt Alangudi UPHC | Valangaiman | NA | NA | — |
| Tiruvarur | Govt Rayapuram UPHC | Needamangalam | NA | NA | — |
| Tiruvarur | Govt Head Quarters Hospital Mannargudi | Mannargudi | 9942885300 | gh.mannargudi@gmail.com | — |
| Tiruvarur | Tiruvarur Medical College | Tiruvarur | 8888888888 | pawanks@healthsprint.net | — |
| Tiruvarur | Govt Hospital Thiruthuraipoondi | Thiruthuraipoondi | 9999999992 | drsureshrayanan@gmail.com | — |
| Tiruvarur | Govt Hospital Nannilam | Nannilam | 9999999999 | ghnannilam@gmail.com | — |
| Tiruvarur | Govt Kottur UPHC | Thirumakottai | NA | NA | — |
| Tiruvarur | Govt Koradacheri UPHC | Perumpannaiyur | NA | NA | — |
| Tiruvarur | Tiruvarur MC DEIC | Tiruvarur | 9898989898 | udayaprakash.r@vidalhealthtpa.com | — |
| Tiruvarur | Govt DDWO | Tiruvarur | 9898989898 | udayaprakash.r@vidalhealthtpa.com | — |
| Tiruvarur | Govt Adiyakkamangalam UPHC | Adiyakkamangalam | NA | NA | — |
| Tiruvarur | Tiruvarur MC (Cardiology) | Tiruvarur | NA | NA | Cardiology |
| Tiruvarur | TNMSC Govt Medical College MRI | Tiruvarur | NA | NA | Diagnostic Center |
| Tiruvarur | Tiruvarur MC Psychiatry | Tiruvarur | NA | NA | Psychiatry |
| Tiruvarur | Tiruvarur Medical College Angio | Tiruvarur | NA | NA | Angiography Services |
| Tiruvarur | Lakshana Hospital | Thiruvarur | 33333333333 | drkshanmugam.lakshana@gmail.com | Burns, Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery, Surgical Oncology, Orthopaedics, Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Genitourinary Surgery, General Surgery |
| Tiruvarur | Raaj Hospital | Tiruvarur | 2222222222 | drmrkrajhospital@yahoo.in | Nephrology, Orthopaedics, General Surgery, ENT, Burns, Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery |
| Tiruvarur | Thiruvarur Medical Centre | Thiruvarur | 9994379600 | tmcplh2006@gmail.com | Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Genitourinary Surgery, Surgical Oncology, Radiation Oncology, Burns, Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery, Neurology, Paediatric Surgery, General Surgery, Cardiology, Neuro Surgery, Orthopaedics, Medical Oncology, Nephrology, ENT |
| Tiruvarur | Navajeevan Medical Foundation Pvt Ltd | Tiruvarur | 9898989898 | nithia.d@vidalhealthtpa.com | Orthopaedics, Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Paediatric Surgery, General Surgery |
| Tiruvarur | Arun Medical Centre | Thiruvarur | NA | NA | Genitourinary Surgery, Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Orthopaedics, General Surgery, General Medicine |
| Tiruvarur | Bharathamatha Special School (Autism) | Tiruvarur | NA | NA | Autism / Special Education |
PMJAY–CMCHIS: How the Integration Works
Tamil Nadu follows a merged model, where PMJAY and CMCHIS operate as a single platform. This means beneficiaries under either scheme receive identical coverage, claim processes, and hospital access.
For Thiruvarur residents, the benefits include:
- Coverage up to ₹5 lakh per family per year for secondary and tertiary care.
- Cashless treatment at government and private empanelled hospitals.
- Access to over 1,400 approved medical and surgical procedures, including cardiac, cancer, kidney, and accident-related treatments.
- A dedicated helpline and e-Sevai centres to check eligibility and hospital availability.
The integration ensures smoother claim settlements and transparency in service delivery. In Thiruvarur, digital claim systems are now fully active, with district officials monitoring hospital performance and patient satisfaction.
Health Access and Local Realities
The health challenges of Thiruvarur are closely tied to its geography and socio-economic profile. Floods and waterlogging during monsoons often affect transportation and disrupt healthcare access in villages like Seruthur, Peralam, and Koradacheri. Seasonal migration for agricultural labour also affects continuity of care for chronic diseases.
To counter these issues, the district health department has intensified its village health nurse (VHN) network. These nurses play a critical role in ensuring follow-up for pregnant women, child vaccination, and awareness about health insurance schemes like CMCHIS and PMJAY.
Another noteworthy development is the rise in dialysis and diabetic care units across the district. The DHQH Thiruvarur now runs a modern dialysis wing supported by CMCHIS funding, helping reduce travel dependency on Thanjavur.
Real Impact: What PMJAY Means for Families
For many lower-income families in Thiruvarur, PMJAY has reduced the fear of unaffordable treatment. For instance, a farmer from Nannilam who needs gallbladder surgery can receive it free of cost at the district hospital or at a PMJAY-approved private centre in Mannargudi.
Similarly, for women in rural panchayats, the scheme covers caesarean deliveries, hysterectomies, and neonatal care, ensuring both mother and child receive proper postnatal support.
According to official estimates, more than 2 lakh beneficiaries in Thiruvarur have accessed CMCHIS or PMJAY benefits since its launch. The claim approval rate remains high, with most hospitals processing them digitally within the 15-day timeline.
Looking Ahead
Thiruvarur’s healthcare system continues to evolve in response to its population’s needs. While tertiary care facilities may still be concentrated in nearby districts, the steady expansion of PMJAY and CMCHIS has strengthened local access and financial security.
District officials are also working on telemedicine integration, particularly in PHCs serving flood-prone and remote areas. The aim is to make early diagnosis and specialist consultation easier, even for those living far from the district centre.
In essence, PMJAY–CMCHIS in Thiruvarur is not just a financial protection program , it is a bridge that connects rural health realities with modern medical care. As awareness grows and hospital empanelment expands, the district’s goal is clear: quality care for every family, without financial strain.
1. How many PMJAY-approved hospitals are there in Thiruvarur district?
There are about 22 empanelled hospitals under the PMJAY–CMCHIS network in Thiruvarur, including both government and private hospitals. The key centres include the District Headquarters Hospital (Thiruvarur), Mannargudi Government Hospital, and select private facilities offering secondary and tertiary care.
2. Which major areas of Thiruvarur have PMJAY hospital access?
The main concentration of hospitals is in Thiruvarur town, Mannargudi, Needamangalam, and Nannilam. These areas provide access to general, maternity, orthopaedic, and dialysis care. Rural panchayats are served through PHCs and referrals to the district or taluk hospitals.
3. Does PMJAY cover advanced treatment like cardiac or cancer care in Thiruvarur?
Yes, PMJAY–CMCHIS covers a wide range of procedures including cardiac surgeries, cancer treatment, kidney transplants, orthopaedic implants, and accident care. For highly specialised care, patients are often referred to tertiary centres in Thanjavur or Tiruchirapalli under the same cashless benefit system.
4. How can residents of Thiruvarur check if they are eligible for PMJAY?
Residents can verify eligibility using their ration card or Aadhaar number at local e-Sevai Maiyams, CMCHIS help desks in hospitals, or through the official PMJAY website. The process is simple, and eligibility lists are frequently updated by the Tamil Nadu Health Department.
5. What is the difference between CMCHIS and PMJAY in Thiruvarur?
In Tamil Nadu, both schemes are integrated into a single platform. This means beneficiaries under CMCHIS automatically receive PMJAY benefits. There is no separate enrollment or card — the coverage, claim process, and hospitals are the same.
6. Are maternity and child care services covered under PMJAY in Thiruvarur?
Yes. Maternity, neonatal, and paediatric care — including normal and caesarean deliveries — are fully covered under PMJAY–CMCHIS at both government and empanelled private hospitals.
7. Where can people find the list of PMJAY hospitals in Thiruvarur district?
The official list is available on the Tamil Nadu CMCHIS portal and can also be accessed through the District Health Office, Thiruvarur. PolicyGuide.in provides updated district-wise hospital lists in a reader-friendly format for easy access.
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