Coimbatore Hospital Changes Medicine Covers After Hindi Language Row

New Covers

Coimbatore Medical College Hospital replaced its pharmacy paper covers on Tuesday following a controversy over Hindi instructions printed on them.

The Controversy

Critics argued the three-language text went against Tamil Nadu's two-language policy. DMK leader and former Minister for Industries T.R.B. Raja posted about the issue on X, pointing out that similar covers had also appeared in Karur.

Official Response

A senior hospital official stated that Chinthamani Cooperative Society printed and supplied the covers, adding that nobody had raised concerns about the Hindi text previously. A pharmacy source noted that such covers had been used for a long time, including during the previous government. Pharmacists have now received orders to use only the new covers featuring Tamil and English.

Hospital Reach

The hospital serves roughly 3,000 to 4,500 outpatients every day, which includes many migrant workers who live and work in the area.

Context

Language policies are a sensitive political issue in Tamil Nadu, where the state government strongly supports a two-language formula involving Tamil and English. Public institutions frequently navigate the challenge of serving diverse populations, including migrant workers who speak various regional languages, while adhering to local linguistic guidelines.