Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa requires a longer stay at the facility, Chennai's Apollo Hospital said in a statement on Thursday. The All Indian Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam party chief's health continues to improve, and she is making gradual progress, the hospital said.

"Based on detailed deliberations and clinical examination, the expert group of doctors at Apollo Hospital has drawn up a detailed medical management plan, keeping in view the chief minister's known history of diabetes and winter bronchitis in inclement weather," the statement said. Jayalalithaa's current treatment regimen includes continued respiratory support, nebulisation, drugs to decongest her lungs, antibiotics, nutrition, general nursing care and supportive therapy.

The health update further added that the team of three doctors from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, who arrived in Chennai on Thursday, had examined the chief minister and agreed with the line of treatment being provided to her. She was admitted to the private hospital for dehydration and fever on September 22.