A south Indian state has become possibly the first in the world to offer publicly-funded breast implants¹, its health minister arguing, "Why should beauty treatment not be available to the poor?"

 

印度南部的一个邦或许是世界上首个提供公费隆胸福利的地方。这个邦的卫生部长表示，“为什么穷人就不能接受美容服务呢？”

 

The Tamil Nadu state health department on Wednesday launched the free service at a clinic in the capital Chennai. "If we don't offer [the procedure for free, they may opt² for dangerous methods or take huge loans for it," said C Vijaya Baskar, the state health minister.

 

The clinic had already been providing breast reconstruction³ surgery for cancer patients, but was now extending the service for people who wished to alter the size of their breasts for other health or cosmetic⁴ reasons.

 

The head of plastic surgery at the clinic, Dr V Ramadevi, said some of her patients sought breast reduction to alleviate⁵ shoulder and back pain, while others sought to augment⁶ or shrink their breasts for a boost in confidence.

 

"There is a psychological benefit. Many girls who have larger breasts don't like to go out. There is no reason this surgery should be restricted from the poor."

 

The procedure would also be available to men, she said.

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