Coimbatore Hospital Swaps Medicine Covers After Hindi Text Sparks Outcry

UPDATE - follow-up to Coimbatore Medical College Hospital changes medicine covers after instructions in Hindi spark controversy: Coimbatore Medical College Hospital replaced its medicine paper covers on Tuesday evening following criticism over Hindi instructions printed on them.

The Controversy

The covers featured instructions in Tamil, English and Hindi. Critics argued that this went against the two-language policy of Tamil Nadu. DMK leader and former Minister for Industries T.R.B. Raja posted about the issue on X. He stated that the three-language policy seemed to be spreading to hospitals in the state after a similar situation in Karur.

Official Response

A senior hospital official stated that the Chinthamani Cooperative Society printed and supplied the covers. The official added that no one had previously flagged the Hindi instructions, and that such covers had been used for a long time. A pharmacy source claimed similar covers were also used during the previous regime. Pharmacists have now received instructions to stop using the three-language covers and switch entirely to new ones featuring only Tamil and English.

Context

Coimbatore Medical College Hospital handles between 3,000 and 4,500 outpatients every single day. A large number of migrant workers living in and around the city regularly seek medical treatment at this facility.