Kerala Plans Round-the-Clock Specialist Care at District Hospitals

Kerala wants people to get specialist medical care closer to their homes.

District and general hospitals will offer these services all day and all night.

The first plan is to choose at least one hospital in every district.

The government hopes to begin this within six months.

Doctors will treat problems involving medicine, surgery, bones, children and women’s health.

Some hospitals will be prepared to perform emergency operations at night.

Officials will check buildings, equipment and staffing before the services begin.

More doctors, nurses and other workers may be sent to hospitals that need them.

The plan is also intended to reduce pressure on medical colleges.

The government says public hospitals, rather than privatisation, will remain central to healthcare delivery.