The Tamil Nadu government on Friday announced setting up of Zonal Cancer Treatment Centres at Madurai and Coimbatore with chief minister Jayalalithaa sanctioning over Rs. 28 crore for this purpose. The Centres would come up at Madurai Rajaji General Hospital and Coimbatore Medical College and Hospital. New equipment would be procured while separate buildings to house the Centres will also come up, funds for which will be utilised from the Rs. 28.63 crore allocated by the government.

New vacancies will also be created and the initiative was part of the government's effort to ensure delivery of modern medical treatment to the poor, an official press release said.

Jayalalithaa also sanctioned Rs. 9.70 crore for the King Institute of Preventive Medicine and Research in Chennai to establish a Tissue Bank.

She also allocated Rs. 1.20 crore towards a Centre-State initiative on Cardio Vascular diseases, which will be utilised to buy necessary medical equipment for Thanjavur Medical College and Hospital.