Tamil Nadu's PREM Initiative Saves Young Lives, Boosts Survival Rates

Tamil Nadu has made remarkable strides in improving child survival rates in recent years through its Paediatric Resuscitation and Emergency Medicine (PREM) initiative. This program, part of the state's Tamil Nadu Accident and Emergency Care Initiative (TAEI), has strengthened paediatric emergency care in government secondary care institutions, including district headquarters and taluk hospitals.

The PREM initiative has established 116 dedicated centres across Tamil Nadu, providing specialized protocols and infrastructure for treating paediatric emergencies. Data shows a steady rise in survival rates among children treated at these PREM centres, from 93.44% in 2021 to 94.34% so far in 2025. Admissions have also surged, increasing from 21,586 in 2021 to 80,907 this year.

The PREM model was pioneered by the National Health Mission, Tamil Nadu, as a strategy to reduce post-neonatal under-five mortality. It has enabled neurologically intact survival for critically ill children, reducing the burden on intensive care units across the state. Hundreds of doctors and nurses have been trained at the PREM skills lab established at the Institute of Child Health in Madras Medical College, further strengthening the state's paediatric emergency care capabilities.