Women in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu will be offered free breast implants as part of a public healthcare scheme.
Breast implants
The Tamil Nadu state health department announced that the free cosmetic surgery will be available at the Government Stanley Medical College and Hospital.
The state has already been offering breast reconstruction for cancer patients but will “now extend the procedure for those wanting to increase or reduce their breast size”, head of plastic surgery at the Government Stanley Medical College and Hospital, Dr V Ramadevi, told the Times of India.
Dr Ramadevi said that many women wanting to reduce their breast size experienced problems such as shoulder pain, rashes and fungal infections.
More so, there is a risk that if the state doesn’t the procedure, women may “opt for dangerous methods or take huge loans for it.” Health minister C Vijaya Baskar said.
The scheme has been criticised as a waste of funds by a number of public health experts. Speaking to Times of India, former public health director Dr S Elango said:
“The scheme sounds populist, but it is not an ideal public health programme. State funds are required for emerging non-communicable diseases and communicable diseases. It is sad that we are now focusing on beauty instead of life-saving surgeries”.
The clinic will also perform free cleft lip surgeries for children and hand transplants, as well other procedures. The scheme is also set to be extended across other districts in the state.