Why Chennai’s transgender community continues to rely largely on private healthcare

Synopsis: Most transgender adults in Chennai continue to rely on private healthcare for routine, mental health and gender-affirming care, while government hospitals remain underused due to discrimination, poor service quality and a lack of specialised services, a new study has found. Researchers from Madras Medical College surveyed 104 participants and identified systemic barriers, including inadequate counselling, long delays, and low awareness of trans-specific services.

Despite growing discussions about inclusivity in hospitals, most transgender adults in Chennai continue to rely on private healthcare for both general and gender-affirming needs. Government hospitals remain largely inaccessible due to discrimination, poor service quality, and limited specialised care, according to a re