R ARIVANANTHAM
CHENNAI, JULY 31
A neighbourhood where a health check-up is within reach, a specialist is easier to access and an ambulance can be summoned in an emergency could be the difference between delayed treatment and timely care. Seeking to bring that model closer to Chennai families, SRM Prime Hospital, Ramapuram, has launched ‘SRM Prime Zone’, a 5-km community healthcare initiative centred on preventive screening, affordable access and early medical intervention.
- SRM Prime Hospital launches first-of-its-kind 5-km neighbourhood healthcare initiative to make preventive and quality medical care more accessible
- 10,000 residents in the Prime Zone to get FREE health screenings through a large-scale preventive healthcare programme
- 10,000 households to receive complimentary SRM Prime Cards offering specialist consultations, diagnostics and treatment benefits
- Residents across Ramapuram, Manapakkam, Porur, Mugalivakkam, Valasaravakkam, KK Nagar and surrounding areas to benefit
- Initiative seeks to shift healthcare from illness-driven treatment to early detection, regular check-ups and healthier lifestyles
- Free emergency ambulance support within 5 km adds a crucial lifeline for residents during medical emergencies
A major public-health component of the initiative is the hospital’s commitment to provide FREE health screenings to the first 10,000 residents living within the SRM Prime Zone through medical camps.
The initiative covers residents of Ramapuram, Manapakkam, Porur, Mugalivakkam, Valasaravakkam, KK Nagar, Nesapakkam and adjoining neighbourhoods, bringing preventive healthcare and hospital benefits closer to where people live.
10,000 screenings to put prevention first
The large-scale screening programme is aimed at encouraging residents to move beyond the common tendency of seeking medical help only after symptoms become serious.
Through the free medical camps, SRM Prime Hospital hopes to promote early detection, regular health checks and timely medical intervention, potentially helping residents identify health risks before they develop into more serious conditions.
For Chennai’s densely populated neighbourhoods, where busy work schedules and family responsibilities can often push routine health checks down the priority list, the initiative seeks to make preventive care more convenient.
10,000 families to get a healthcare passport
As part of the launch, SRM Prime has introduced the SRM Prime Card, which will be distributed free of cost to 10,000 households within the designated zone.
The card provides a range of healthcare privileges to a maximum of 6 members in a family, including a limited number of complimentary specialist consultations across departments, complimentary diet consultations, 20% discount on blood investigations, and 10% discount on bed charges and pharmacy bills.
Cardholders will also be eligible for a Buy One, Get One Free offer on the hospital’s Master Health Check-up.
In emergencies, eligible residents located within a 5-km radius can also avail themselves of free ambulance pick-up, providing an important additional support mechanism for families during critical situations.
Siva: ‘Quality healthcare should be accessible’
Speaking at the launch, P Siva, CEO, SRM Prime Hospital, said: “At SRM Prime Hospital, Ramapuram, we believe that quality healthcare should be accessible, affordable, preventive, and deeply connected to the community. The launch of SRM Prime Zone and the complimentary SRM Prime Card reflects this commitment by bringing quality healthcare closer to the people we serve.
As a key component of our preventive healthcare mission, we are offering FREE health screenings to the first 10,000 residents living within the SRM Prime Zone. In addition, the 10,000 SRM Prime Card holders will enjoy a range of exclusive healthcare benefits, including free specialist consultations, preventive health services, discounts on diagnostics and treatments, and emergency ambulance support.
Through this initiative, we hope to encourage families to prioritize preventive care, seek timely medical attention, and adopt healthier lifestyles. Our goal is to build lasting relationships with the community while ensuring that world-class healthcare remains accessible, convenient, and within everyone’s reach.”
The programme was inaugurated by playback singer Mano, in the presence of Siva, Selva Ramasamy, Vice President, Healthcare Services, Dr Shrilekha Venkatesan, Assistant Director, Medical Services, community leaders and representatives of Residents’ Welfare Associations.
Mano’s message: Protect health, reject drugs
Interacting with the media, playback singer Mano used the occasion to make a strong appeal to young people to stay away from drug addiction, while also speaking about employment opportunities and public-health measures.
“As a SSLC drop out, I expect the TVK Government headed by Hon Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay to create more employment through encouraging more and more IT and ITE companies to set up their units in the State, on the lines of the thriving MNC ecosystem in neighbouring Hyderabad. The pro-active move by the Vijay government in closing down TASMAC shops closer to educational and places of worship is a welcome step and it shows the government’s intention to create a responsible society. My humble request to the youngsters not to yield addicted to drugs, as it will spoil your health apart from collapsing the entire family,” he added.
Mano also recalled his association with Vijay, saying he was fortunate to have sung “Chin’na Thambi Unnai Nambi Intha Nade Kathirukku” for Vijay’s first film nearly 33 years ago.
He said Vijay gave shape to the song.
The remarks added a wider social-health dimension to an initiative primarily focused on preventive healthcare, highlighting the need for young people to protect their physical and mental well-being and avoid substance abuse.
From hospital to community: A 5-km healthcare network
The SRM Prime Zone seeks to create a stronger connection between the hospital and the communities surrounding it.
Instead of healthcare beginning only when a patient enters a hospital with an illness, the initiative aims to take the first steps of prevention, screening and health awareness into neighbourhoods.
The model could be particularly valuable for senior citizens, working families and residents who postpone routine health checks because of time, cost or accessibility concerns.
The hospital’s outreach through Residents’ Welfare Associations and community leaders is also intended to strengthen awareness and participation in the screening programme.
300-bed specialty care under one roof
SRM Prime Hospital is a 300-bed quaternary-care multispecialty hospital, offering comprehensive medical services supported by advanced technology and patient-centric care.
Its facilities include South India’s advanced MRI system, a state-of-the-art Endoscopy Suite, the da Vinci Xi Robotic Surgical System, advanced critical-care facilities and round-the-clock Emergency and Trauma Services.
The hospital provides specialised medical care across a broad range of departments, with the SRM Prime Zone now seeking to create a direct community bridge to these capabilities.
At a time when lifestyle-related illnesses and delayed diagnosis continue to pose significant health challenges, the initiative’s central message is straightforward:
Healthcare should not begin at the hospital door. It should begin in the neighbourhood—with awareness, screening, timely consultation and the everyday choice to live healthier.
