The Tamil Nadu Dr. M.G.R. Medical University affiliating University governed by the said Act started functioning from July 1988. The Students admitted to the various Medical and Paramedical courses after 1.3.1988 come under this Medical University as per Government notification issued in G.O.Ms.No.1628/Health, Indian Medicine and Homoeopathy and Family Welfare Department dated 23.08.1988.
Exclusively to deal with medical education and research at Under graduate, Post graduate and Doctoral level was keenly felt for over a period of years need to have a separate Medical University in Tamilnadu and was under consideration of the State Government since 1980.
The State Government appointed a High Level Committee consisting of to go into all aspects of establishing a separate Medical University by Dr. A. Venugopal, Dr. S. Kameswaran And Dr. M. Natarajan and make suitable recommendations to the State Government.
- Under Government or Self-financing in Medical, Dental, Indian Medicine/Homoeopathy & Allied Health Sciences(Pharmacy, Nursing, Physiotherapy, Occupational therapy etc.) in Tamil Nadu capable of granting affiliation to new institutions,The Tamil Nadu Dr. M.G.R. Medical University is the only Medical University and awarding degrees under a single umbrella to maintain uniform and high standards of education.
- Until 1988, Tamil Nadu Dr. M.G.R. Medical University all degrees of Health Sciences were awarded by the University of Madras.
- Tamil Nadu Dr. M.G.R. Medical University has apart from modern medicine, the Committee was also requested to examine and suggest improvements to be made in other traditional systems of Indian Medicine viz. Siddha, Ayurveda and Unani.
- In Tamil Nadu with an intention should bring about co-ordination between various educational and training institutions of modern medicine as well as other Indian Systems of Dentistry, Nursing, Pharmacy, Medicine, etc. and promote research Tamil Nadu Dr. M.G.R. Medical University to be established. Based on the report of the Committee, the Medical University was established by the Government of Tamil Nadu.
- The Tamil Nadu Dr. M.G.R. Medical University also promotes research and disseminates knowledge gained therefrom. The University has been declared eligible by the UGC u/s 12(B) of the UGC Act 1956 for receiving central assistance.
- For the first time in the history of any Medical University in India, the International Organization for Standardization has conferred ISO 9001:2015 Certification on the University. The scope of activities covered under this certification is provision of Medical Education Services and regulating Medical Colleges and Allied Educational Services.