The Government of Tamil Nadu has launched Nalam AI, a free WhatsApp-based assistant that lets you access government hospital services directly from your phone. No app to download, no forms to fill, no queue at the registration counter. Open WhatsApp, say Hi, and handle your hospital needs from wherever you are.
Nalam AI is a service of the National Health Mission (NHM), Tamil Nadu, built in partnership with Open Holistic AI, IIT Madras. All health records it shows you come live from the Tamil Nadu Health Management System (CDAC), which means the data is always accurate and up to date. Nothing is stored by the chatbot itself.
The service is currently available on a pilot basis in 22 districts of Tamil Nadu including Chennai and Chengalpattu, with plans to expand statewide.
Quick Facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| WhatsApp number | +91 96192 22999 |
| Official website | nhm.tn.nalamai.in |
| Nalam TN donation portal | nalam.tn.gov.in |
| Launched by | CM C. Joseph Vijay, Government of Tamil Nadu |
| Launch date | 14 July 2026, Presidency College Auditorium, Chennai |
| Under | National Health Mission (NHM), Tamil Nadu |
| Technology partner | Open Holistic AI, IIT Madras |
| Data source | Tamil Nadu Health Management System (CDAC) |
| Languages | Tamil and English |
| Aadhaar required | No |
| Districts available | 22 districts (pilot), including Chennai and Chengalpattu |
| Cost | Free, always |
What is Nalam AI
Nalam AI (also written as e-நலம்) is a WhatsApp chatbot that connects you to Tamil Nadu's government hospital services without requiring you to visit the hospital registration counter. It works inside your existing WhatsApp app. There is nothing to install and no account to create on a separate platform.
When you message the chatbot, it pulls your health records live from the Tamil Nadu Health Management System run by CDAC. This means the prescriptions, lab reports, and appointment details you see are real and current, not copies stored somewhere else. The chatbot itself stores nothing. Every session uses OTP verification, so only you can access your records.
The chatbot was built by Open Holistic AI, a company from IIT Madras, under the National Health Mission. Health Minister Dr. K.G. Arunraaj conducted the initial pilot at the Cardiology and Respiratory Medicine departments of Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital, Chennai, before the full launch by CM C. Joseph Vijay on 14 July 2026.
Nalam AI vs Nalam TN Portal: What is the Difference
Nalam AI at nhm.tn.nalamai.in is the WhatsApp chatbot for patients. Use it to register, book appointments, get prescriptions, and access lab reports. This is what most people need.
Nalam TN at nalam.tn.gov.in is the donation portal run as a Section 8 non-profit by the Tamil Nadu Health Foundation. It allows individuals, alumni of government medical colleges, and corporates to donate transparently to specific government hospitals or sponsor medical equipment through CSR. The two platforms work together but serve different purposes.
What Nalam AI Can Do for You
Patient Registration
Register at a government hospital and receive your CR (Case Record) number and OP card without standing in any queue. This is especially useful if you are travelling from a distant area or are an elderly patient who finds long waits difficult. Registration happens entirely through the chat before you reach the hospital.
Book Appointments
Pick your preferred date and time for an OPD appointment. The chatbot confirms your slot instantly. This removes the need to take a full day off just to wait for a turn. Note that appointment booking is available at participating hospitals in the 22 pilot districts.
e-Visit Check-In
On the day of your appointment, check in from the hospital gate itself. The chatbot gives you your queue number before you even walk into the building, so you know exactly when to go to the counter. This feature is available at participating hospitals.
OP Card with QR Code
Download your patient OP card with a QR code directly to your phone. This speeds up future hospital visits because staff can scan the QR code instead of manually searching for your records.
Doctor Prescriptions
View prescriptions from your doctor visits and download them as PDF files. You no longer need to keep physical prescription papers or worry about losing them. Every prescription is available in your WhatsApp chat when you need it.
Lab Reports
Receive your lab test results directly in the WhatsApp chat as soon as they are ready. You can save or share these reports from your phone. This is particularly helpful for patients who need to show reports to doctors at follow-up visits.
Find Nearby Government Hospitals
Share your location with the chatbot and it shows you the nearest government hospitals, primary health centres, and community health centres with distance and directions. This works even if you are in an unfamiliar area.
Tamil and English Support
Choose your language when you first start the chatbot. It remembers your choice for all future sessions, so you do not have to select it every time.
How to Start Using Nalam AI: Step by Step
- Open WhatsApp on your phone.
- Save the number +91 96192 22999 in your contacts.
- Send a message saying Hi to this number.
- The chatbot replies with a welcome message: "Welcome to NalamAI (TN-NHM)! I can assist you with registration, doctor's prescriptions, test reports, health ID cards, and locating nearby hospitals."
- Choose your language: Tamil or English. This preference is saved for next time.
- Enter your mobile number when prompted and verify with the OTP sent to your phone.
- A menu of services appears. Tap the option you need and get what you came for.
The entire process from saying Hi to accessing your record takes under a minute for returning users.
Privacy and Security
Nalam AI is built with patient privacy as a core requirement, not an afterthought.
- OTP login every session: Your mobile number and a one-time code are required every time. No one else can access your records even if they have your phone.
- No data stored by the chatbot: Medical records, prescriptions, and lab reports are never stored by Nalam AI. The chatbot fetches them live from the Tamil Nadu Health Management System when you ask and shows them only to you.
- Encrypted chat: All communication through the chatbot is encrypted.
- Official data source: Data comes directly from CDAC, the government's health management system. There is no third-party database involved.
- No Aadhaar needed: You do not need an Aadhaar card to use Nalam AI. Any mobile number works for login and verification.
For Healthcare Workers: The Nalam App
Alongside the patient-facing WhatsApp chatbot, the government has also introduced an internal Nalam App for doctors, nurses, and hospital staff. This app updates patient diagnoses and medicine stock in real time, giving healthcare workers instant visibility into what is needed for each patient. The two systems work together so that when a patient registers through Nalam AI, the hospital staff can see it on their end immediately.
Nalam TN Portal: How to Donate to Government Hospitals
The Nalam TN portal at nalam.tn.gov.in was also launched on 14 July 2026 by CM C. Joseph Vijay. It is run by the Tamil Nadu Health Foundation, a Section 8 non-profit company. Through this portal, individuals, alumni of government medical colleges, and corporate organisations can donate transparently to specific government hospitals or sponsor specific medical equipment.
On the same day as the launch, the Tamil Nadu government also inaugurated healthcare infrastructure and medical equipment worth Rs. 139.47 crore across multiple government hospitals, including new facilities at Kilpauk Government Medical College Hospital, Government Headquarters Hospital in Paramakudi, and additional buildings at Avudaiyarkoil, Nilakottai, Batlagundu, Pattiveeranpatti, and Kariapatti. The government also handed over appointment orders to 2,144 newly recruited healthcare professionals, comprising 751 Assistant Medical Officers and 1,393 Health Inspectors Grade II.
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