Tamil Nadu Medicine Cover Hindi Controversy: The language controversy in Tamil Nadu has once again reached an extreme. This time the main topic of controversy is the prescription cover given to patients in government hospitals. The dosage and usage instructions were printed in Tamil and English besides Hindi on the medicine covers given to patients at the Government Medical College Hospitals in Karur and Coimbatore. After the incident came to light, there was a strong reaction in political circles, following which the hospital authorities have stopped the use of this cover with immediate effect.
A DMK leader’s social media post ignited a controversy
The whole controversy started when DMK leader TRB Raja shared a photo of a medicine cover used in a government hospital in Karur on social media platform X. Raising serious questions on the issue, he wrote, “Looks like the three-language policy is being stealthily implemented in hospitals in Tamil Nadu too! First in Karur and now in Coimbatore, this kind of cover has been seen.” This post of his brought heat in the political field.
Clarity of hospital systems
Karur Medical College Hospital Dean Dr. M. Bharti Mohan clarified that normally the hospital uses plain brown covers prepared by Madurai Jail. However, new covers were ordered from a cooperative printing press in Erode in December 2025 due to a shortage of covers. The printing press also printed Hindi as a commonly printed language. The Hindi text did not go unnoticed by the hospital staff, but these covers have been withdrawn following controversy.
Switch to simple cover now for migrant laborers in Coimbatore
A similar type of Hindi cover was being used in Coimbatore Medical College Hospital, which has now been completely removed. Health officials at the hospital said that since Coimbatore has a large number of migrant laborers, the information provided in Hindi was proving useful for them. However, instructions in Tamil and English will now be hand-stamped on plain covers by the system. Some hospital pharmacists have expressed concern that stamping out amid staff shortages and explaining labor will take extra time.
The old opposition of the two language policy versus the three language policy in Tamil Nadu
One of the main reasons behind such a large protest over language in Tamil Nadu is the state’s “two language policy” (Tamil and English). The Tamil Nadu government has consistently opposed the central government’s three-language policy. Consequently, the use of Hindi in any government institution of the state becomes a major political issue. A few days before the incident, Hindi was removed from a signboard on State Highway 93 near Sattanakulam in Tuticorin district and two officials were also suspended in connection with the incident.
Complete ban on controversial covers
State Health Minister KG Arunraj, taking the government’s side in this matter, said that the current government has not made any changes in the design or language of the cover. He added that these covers were purchased in December 2025. As soon as the news about this controversial cover came to light, the government has immediately stopped the use of this cover in both the hospitals and issued instructions to avoid such mistake in future.