Makkalai Thedi Maruthuvam (MTM)
Makkalai Thedi Maruthuvam (MTM)
Home-based services for Non-Communicable Diseases under “Makkalai Thedi Maruthuvam” (MTM) addresses the growing burden of Non-Communicable Diseases aimed at improving treatment compliance and disease control. The Women Health Volunteers (WHVs) of the Self-Help Group network provides preliminary screening services for Hypertension and Diabetes. They also provide doorstep delivery of HT & DM medicines to eligible beneficiaries aged 45 years and above. The STEPS II survey has complemented that 43.7% of Hypertension patients and 39.6% of Diabetes patients have availed Home-based services.
The Tamil Nadu STEPS II Survey 2024 report states a prevalence of 19.57% for Hypertension, 9.64% for Diabetes, and 9.86% for Both Hypertension & Diabetes. The control rates reported are 17.0% for Hypertension and 16.7% for Diabetes. A comparison between Round I with Round II STEPS surveys highlights an 16.9% increase among Hypertension patients and a 20.2% increase among Diabetes patients in seeking care in Government facilities. The STEPS II survey findings suggest improved awareness, better disease control, and increased utilization of Government healthcare services for the management of Hypertension and Diabetes in Tamil Nadu in comparison with the first round STEPS Survey conducted in 2019-20.
Home-based Healthcare Services
A dedicated MTM team comprising of Palliative Staff Nurse and Physiotherapist provide Home-based Palliative care and Physiotherapy services, and support services including CAPD bag distribution for End Stage Kidney Failure patients.
The programme is supported by an extensive healthcare workforce comprising 2,954 MTM Staff Nurses, 10,969 Women Health Volunteers (WHVs), 463 Palliative Care Nurses, 463 Physiotherapists, 4,848 MLHPs, and 2,448 Health Inspectors delivering both facility-based and home-based healthcare services across Tamil Nadu.
2,954
MTM Staff Nurses
10,969
Women Health Volunteers (WHVs)
463
Palliative Care Nurses
463
Physiotherapists
4,848
MLHPs
2,448
Health Inspectors
MTM Digital Portal
To support effective monitoring and service delivery, the State established the Makkalai Thedi Maruthuvam (MTM) portal, which maintains a line-listed database of all registered hypertension, diabetes, and cancer patients, along with beneficiaries receiving allied services such as physiotherapy, palliative care, and Continuous Ambulatory Peritoneal Dialysis (CAPD) support for Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD). The portal serves as a robust digital platform for patient tracking, treatment monitoring, continuity of care, and timely follow-up.As on 31.03.2026, 2.6 crore beneficiaries have benefitted, out of whom, 1,35,27,148 individuals have been identified with Hypertension, 60,06,650 with Diabetes, and 56,62,700 with both HT and DM as detailed below:
Total No. of Beneficiaries under MTM scheme upto 31.03.2026
1,35,27,148
Hypertension Beneficiaries
60,06,650
Diabetes Beneficiaries
56,62,700
Both Hypertension and Diabetes Beneficiaries
7,36,252
Palliative Care Beneficiaries
9,74,922
Physiotherapy Beneficiaries
379
CAPD Bags Beneficiaries
2,60,65,828
Total Beneficiaries
Other Home-Based Services
