R ARIVANANTHAM
CHENNAI, OCT 12
Can a health exhibition do more than detect disease—can it help restore the disappearing relationship between a family and its doctor? The Indian Medical Association (IMA), Tambaram Chapter, hopes to explore that possibility through Namma Health Mega Expo 2026, a three-day public health initiative that places preventive care, early screening and accessible medical knowledge at the heart of its golden jubilee celebrations.
- Three-day Namma Health Mega Expo in Tambaram to combine free health screenings, a comprehensive Health Passport and public-friendly medical education
- Six medical colleges, nearly 50 hospitals and 300–400 doctors expected to participate
- 8,000–10,000 visitors a day anticipated; 26 themed pavilions to demystify diseases and preventive healthcare
- CPR, AED demonstrations and diabetic-foot self-checks to put life-saving knowledge into public hands
- Women’s wellness, mental health, cancer awareness, immunisation and emergency preparedness among key themes
- IMA Tambaram’s golden jubilee initiative seeks to strengthen the doctor-community bond and revive the family-doctor concept
Themed ‘Together for a Healthier Tomorrow’, the exhibition will be held from October 17 to 19 at Valluvar Gurukulam Higher Secondary School, West Tambaram, from 9 am to 7 pm. Admission will be free, giving families, students and senior citizens an opportunity to engage with healthcare professionals, undergo selected health screenings and learn practical ways to protect their well-being.
As Tambaram’s medical fraternity marks half a century of professional service, the Namma Health Mega Expo seeks to turn that milestone into a wider community initiative. Its success will ultimately be measured not merely by visitor numbers, but by whether people leave better informed, follow up on health concerns and make preventive care a more regular part of family life.
The organisers expect between 8,000 and 10,000 visitors daily, with six medical colleges, nearly 50 hospitals and around 300–400 doctors expected to participate. The 26 themed medical pavilions will cover a wide range of health conditions, specialties and super-specialties, translating medical knowledge into information the public can understand and use.
A major feature will be a Health Passport—a comprehensive health record for visitors undergoing screening tests. The organisers also said they were actively working to bring health insurance companies to the exhibition, potentially connecting visitors with information on health coverage alongside screening and awareness services.
A health passport that could make prevention personal
The Health Passport initiative is intended to give participating visitors a consolidated record of their screening results. Such a record can help people track key health indicators and discuss findings with their doctors, while abnormal results may prompt timely medical consultation. Screening, however, is not a substitute for a complete clinical assessment or a diagnosis.
The available health checks are expected to include blood pressure, blood sugar, cholesterol, haemoglobin and body mass index (BMI), alongside awareness sessions on anaemia and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).
Dr. L. Yesodha, President, IMA Tambaram, said:
“The expo will provide a valuable opportunity for the public to understand their health better and take informed steps towards a healthier life.”
She said the pavilions would cover subjects ranging from heart health, diabetes and cancer awareness to mental health, women’s wellness, immunisation, emergency care and organ donation. Practical demonstrations would help visitors understand how to respond to health emergencies and recognise potential warning signs.
The programme will include CPR and Automated External Defibrillator (AED) demonstrations, hands-on CPR training and a simple two-minute self-check to identify potential diabetic-foot problems. By combining information with demonstrations, the organisers hope to make health education more engaging and actionable.
Can the family doctor make a comeback?
One of the larger questions behind the exhibition is whether preventive healthcare can rebuild the traditional relationship between a family and a trusted doctor—a relationship that often enabled continuity of care, early identification of problems and guidance across generations.
A senior IMA member said the exhibition could help revive the age-old ‘Family Doctor’ concept, at a time when healthcare is increasingly divided among multiple specialists and diagnostic services.
The exhibition is also expected to encourage visitors to seek reliable medical advice rather than depend on unverified online claims or misinformation. Its broader public-health message is that awareness, timely consultation and appropriate follow-up must complement one another.
IMA Tambaram will also consider organising similar exhibitions annually or once every six months, depending on the response to this edition.
Three days, three themes: From heart health to emergency readiness
Dr. T. N. Ravisankar, Convenor of the expo, said the programme would feature health talks, lectures, debates, interactive sessions and quizzes across three days, with each day centred on a distinct theme.
Day One, ‘Heart of the Community’, will focus on heart health, diabetes, stroke awareness and preventive healthcare. Sessions will address the recognition of heart-attack symptoms, cholesterol management and the distinction between medical evidence and common health myths.
Day Two, ‘Family & Future: Women, Children & the Young’, will cover women’s health, maternal and child nutrition, vaccination, adolescent mental health, screen time and cancer awareness. The emphasis will be on informed choices that support healthier families and communities.
Day Three, ‘Safe & Aware: Emergencies, Trust & Farewell’, will address emergency preparedness, first aid, stroke and heart emergencies, snakebites, poisoning, road safety and antimicrobial resistance.
The breadth of these themes reflects an effort to place everyday health decisions alongside specialist medical knowledge, while encouraging visitors to recognise when professional care is necessary.
Dr. Ravisankar also said an IMA member had been posting health-awareness videos for several years through the association’s official channel, ‘Yakkai’, extending the chapter’s public education efforts beyond physical events.
Golden Jubilee built on five decades of community service
Dr. V. S. Hariharan, Honorary Secretary, IMA Tambaram, said the chapter, founded in 1976, was completing 50 years of service with a network of around 1,500 member doctors.
“Over the years, the association has undertaken several public health initiatives, including more than 40 health and screening camps covering eye care, oral health, cancer, diabetes and comprehensive health checks across industries, schools and villages. As we mark the golden jubilee milestone, our commitment remains to strengthen the doctor-community relationship, promote preventive healthcare and make quality health awareness accessible to people from all walks of life.”
The mega expo is being positioned as a continuation of that community-oriented approach, bringing medical institutions and practitioners together in a public space where people can learn about health concerns before they become crises.
Health education with culture, fitness and career guidance
Dr. G. Bhuvaneswari, Finance Secretary, IMA Tambaram, said the free exhibition would combine medical awareness with activities designed to engage visitors of different ages.
Puppet shows, Zumba and yoga sessions, lucky draws and competitions for schoolchildren and college students are among the planned attractions. A dedicated pavilion will offer guidance to medical aspirants on NEET and allied health-science courses.
A striking visual feature will be a 42-foot-tall medical-themed Navaratri Golu, bringing together the cultural tradition of Navaratri displays and the message of healthcare.
The organisers expect the mix of cultural activities, fitness sessions, competitions and medical education to make the exhibition an engaging family outing while keeping public health at its core.
Inauguration and participation
T. Sarathkumar, Minister for Human Resources Management, Government of Tamil Nadu, is scheduled to inaugurate the exhibition in the presence of Dr. K. M. Abul Hasan, Honorary Secretary General-Elect, IMA Headquarters.
Those expected to attend include Dr. B. Sridhar, President, IMA Tamil Nadu State Branch; Dr. M. Thiraviam Mohan, Honorary State Secretary, IMA Tamil Nadu State Branch; Dr. J. A. Jayalal, President, Commonwealth Medical Association and Past National President, IMA; and M. Veerappan, Chengalpattu District Collector.
K. G. Arunraj, Minister for Health, Medical Education and Family Welfare; N. Anand, Minister for Rural Development and Water Resources; and T. Rajmohan, Minister for School Education, Tamil Development, Information and Publicity, have also been invited to participate.