Drivers of the Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation (TNSTC) seem to value their health a great deal.
Within 50 days of the master health check-up scheme launched by chief minister J. Jayalalithaa for all
TNSTC drivers over 45 years of age, as many as 2,843 of the 22,477 entitled to it, have already made use
of it at the IRT medical college in Perundurai, Erode.
“So far 446 drivers have been diagnosed with diabetes, the silent killer, and 208 drivers with hypertension. Most of them were unaware of their health problems before the master health check-up. Drivers have come to us even from as far off as Kanyakumari, and as many as 60 to 80 are diagnosed in a day,” said hospital sources.
While most drivers (541) had arrived from the Villupuram corporation, the rest came from Madurai (399), Salem( 398), MTC (384), Coimbatore division (353) and the state express transport corporation (121).
Most tested positive for diabetes, probably, on account of work related stress, but a few had piles and arthritis, and alcoholic hepatitis, a condition caused due to excessive consumption of alcohol.
TNSTC drivers diagnosed with various conditions are being prescribed the right drugs to treat them.
While those living nearby come to the hospital for follow-ups others continue with their medication with help of the health files given to them.