Archive · 5 Oct 2026
Kerala Plans Round-the-Clock Specialist Care Centres Across Districts
Kerala plans to open special centres in government hospitals.
They will offer expert medical care all day and all night.
The aim is to help people get treatment near their homes.
It may also reduce unnecessary trips to medical colleges.
The first centres are planned in four districts by the end of October.
A trial centre in Punalur has already been running.
The health minister said referrals there fell by 30 per cent and childbirths increased.
The government will test the wider plan until December before deciding how to expand it.
Staff and hospital facilities are being arranged.
Kerala plans 24/7 Pratheeksha Centres in district and general hospitals to bring specialist care closer to patients.
The first centres are due to start by the end of October at hospitals in Palakkad, Tirur, Vadakara and Ernakulam.
The project will run as a pilot in districts until December, after which results will be evaluated before statewide implementation.
The Punalur Taluk Hospital trial reportedly reduced referrals by 30 per cent and increased childbirths.
The minister said staffing and infrastructure measures are under way, with instructions to prevent excessive workloads for health workers.
- Who
- The Kerala government, led on the announcement by Health Minister K Muraleedharan.
- What
- The state plans to provide round-the-clock specialty care through Pratheeksha Centres in district and general hospitals.
- When
- The first four centres are expected by the end of October; the pilot will be evaluated through December. The announcement was made on Monday, October 5.
- Where
- Kerala, initially at district hospitals in Palakkad, Tirur in Malappuram, Vadakara in Kozhikode and Ernakulam; a trial centre is operating at Punalur Taluk Hospital in Kollam.
- Why
- To provide specialist treatment near patients’ homes and reduce unnecessary referrals to medical colleges.
- Programme
- Pratheeksha Centres
- Planned coverage
- The aim is to designate two hospitals in each district.
- Services
- Medicine, general surgery, orthopedics, pediatrics and gynecology, available 24/7.
- Initial sites
- District hospitals in Palakkad, Tirur, Vadakara and Ernakulam.
- Pilot period
- The project is to be tested in districts until December, followed by an evaluation.
- Punalur trial
- The minister said referrals from Punalur Taluk Hospital fell by 30 per cent and childbirths increased.
- Staffing
- Required staff are being deployed through temporary appointments; additional staffing and infrastructure measures are planned.