Tamil Nadu Health Foundation

About the Foundation & Governance

1.Is TNHF (நலம்TN) a government body or a separate legal entity?

நலம்TN is a registered Section 8 non-profit company under the Companies Act, 2013, established under the Health and Family Welfare Department, Government of Tamil Nadu. It functions as an independent institutional platform with its own governance structure, working in close coordination with the State health system.

2.Who governs and oversees the Foundation's functioning?

The Foundation is overseen by a Board of Directors, chaired by Secretary to Government, Health and Family Welfare Department, which ensures accountability and transparency of all contributions, supported by District and State-level committees for project approval and monitoring.

3.What is the vision of the Foundation?

It helps in connecting corporate contributors, communities and healthcare professionals to collaboratively strengthen public health systems with world-class infrastructure and quality healthcare services accessible and equitable regardless of background or geography, to all sections of society, ensuring better health outcomes and overall well-being, while fostering a culture of collective responsibility and social contribution.

4.Who supports the Tamil Nadu Health Foundation?

நலம்TN is supported by the Government of Tamil Nadu, corporate companies through Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) contributions, individual donors, alumni and the general public.Donations & the State Corpus Fund.

Donations & the State Corpus Fund

5.What is the difference between donating to a specific hospital and the State Nalam TN Fund?

A hospital specific donation goes entirely towards a listed need at that hospital. State Nalam TN Fund contribution goes towards State-level priorities such as multi-institution funding, statewide disease programs (cancer, dialysis, NCDs, mental health), multi-hospital civil works, high-end surgeries for multiple beneficiaries, or urgent/emergent needs.

6.Does the Corpus Fund replace government health spending?

No. Corpus Fund contributions are incremental to the State's budgetary health spending they supplement and augment existing government services and schemes, not substitute for them.

7.Can I choose a specific cause (e.g., cancer, dialysis, mental health) for my donation?

Yes. Donors contributing to the Corpus Fund can direct support towards a specific statewide cause, such as cancer management, dialysis services, NCD control, or mental health care.

8.Is there a minimum or maximum donation amount?

No Transparency & Fund Utilization.

Transparency & Fund Utilizations​

9.How do I know a hospital's request is genuine?

Each requirement is first identified and passed as a resolution by the Hospital Management Committee (HMC) — which includes doctors, patients, and community stakeholders before being uploaded to the நலம்TN portal for donor visibility.

10.How is my donation tracked after I contribute?

Every donation made through the நலம்TN payment gateway is linked to a unique Project ID and accessible via a donor dashboard, where you can track progress, receive SMS/email milestone updates, and view the Utilization Certificate upon project completion.

11.Who approves how funds are actually spent?

Civil projects above ₹10 lakh require approval from the District Level Committee and are executed via designated Government agency; projects below ₹10 lakh are managed directly through the Hospital Management Committee. All payments flow through a Single Nodal Account (SNA).

12.Are the projects independently verified, or only self-reported by hospitals?

Both. In addition to HMC-uploaded photos, bills, and vouchers, random audits and field inspections are conducted by officials at the Block, District, and State levels to independently verify progress and utilisation.

13.What happens if funds raised for a project are not fully utilized?

As per the Refund Policy, any surplus or unspent funds after project completion are not refunded to the donor but are redirected towards other approved CSR health projects, as permitted by law. CSR & Corporate Contributions.

CSR & Corporate Contributions

14.What documents does a company need to submit to contribute via CSR?

Companies must upload their CSR policy, certificate of registration, and a Board Resolution authorising the contribution, and must ensure the project falls within Schedule VII of the Companies Act, 2013.

15.Can a company specify which hospital or project its CSR funds go to?

Yes, provided the project is listed and approved on the நலம்TN (NalamTN) portal. நலம்TN reserves the right to approve, modify, or reject any proposed project.

16.Can CSR funds be used to purchase vehicles for hospital officials?

No. Contributions towards vehicles for officials are explicitly excluded; only patient-facing needs such as ambulances/patient transport vehicles meeting CMVR/RTO and TNMSC norms are eligible. In-Kind Contributions

In-Kind Contributions

17.Can I donate medical equipment or medicines directly instead of money?

Yes, subject to eligibility. Equipment must be new/fully functional and meet TNMSC standards; high-value equipment must include a pre-fixed AMC. Medicines must be sealed, unexpired, and regulatory-cleared, with batch number and expiry date.

18.Are there restrictions on the type of equipment or medicines accepted?

Yes. நலம்TN (NalamTN) does not accept expired, substandard, banned, or region/brand-specific drugs that limit usability, nor non-functional, damaged, uncertified, or obsolete equipment, or equipment requiring costly proprietary consumables.

19.Can I donate an ambulance?

Yes. Ambulances/patient transport vehicles are accepted, provided they are brand new, comply with the latest CMVR/RTO norms and TNMSC standards, and come with active insurance and complete documentation.Refunds & Legal.

Refunds & Legal

20.Can I get a refund if I change my mind after donating?

No. Refunds are only granted in limited exceptional cases technical or clerical/payment errorsand must be requested in writing within 10 days of the transaction. Change of mind or internal policy changes are explicitly non-refundable.

21.How long does a refund take, and how is it paid?

Verified refunds are processed within one month and credited back through the same payment gateway used for the original contribution. No interest is paid on refunded amounts.

22.Where can disputes regarding donations be resolved?

Disputes are first attempted to be resolved mutually. If unresolved, they fall under the exclusive jurisdiction of the Civil Courts of Chennai, Tamil Nadu.

23.Who can I contact for more information?

You may contact The Project Director (TNHSP), Tamil Nadu Health Foundation (நலம்TN) NalamTN, DMS Annex Building, Teynampet, Chennai – 600006, or write to tnhf@tnhsp.org.