Decentralised healthcare system to ensure grassroots access: Veena George

KANNUR

Health Minister Veena George has said that the government has successfully decentralised healthcare delivery through primary and family health centres, ensuring people-friendly and patient-oriented treatment across the State. She was inaugrating the Janakiya Arogya Kendra in Narath panchayat on Monday.

The Minister said family health centres reflected the government’s commitment to providing treatment at the grassroots level. “The government spends over ₹1,500 crore annually on free treatment. Around 42.5 lakh families are eligible for treatment assistance of up to ₹5 lakh a year,” she added.

Ms. George said efforts were on to extend healthcare coverage to those outside the existing schemes. Under the decentralised model, primary health centres and family health centres provide basic care, taluk hospitals offer specialty treatments, and district hospitals deliver super-specialty services.

K.V. Sumesh, MLA, presided over the event.K.V. Sumesh, MLA, presided over the event. Narath panchayat constructed the Janakiya Arogya Kendra at a cost of ₹15.25 lakh. The centre hosts clinics for women, children, adolescents, and the elderly. It also organises home visits and outreach vaccination drives on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays.. It also organises home visits and outreach vaccination drives on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays.