Kerala’s public health sector has evolved into modern, people-friendly system: CM

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Monday (November 3) said that Kerala’s public health sector has evolved into a more people-friendly and modern system, offering advanced facilities from taluk hospitals to medical colleges. He was speaking after inaugurating the new multi-speciality block at Kuthuparamba Taluk Hospital, along with the State-level pilot project for HPV vaccination to prevent cervical cancer, and a digital mammogram machine.

The Chief Minister said the HPV vaccination initiative marks another significant milestone in Kerala’s healthcare progress and will be implemented across the State after the pilot phase in Kannur. The vaccination, aimed at preventing cervical cancer — the second most common cancer among women in India — will initially target Plus One and Plus Two students.

Highlighting the government’s commitment to healthcare reforms, Mr. Vijayan said the new 12-storey, ₹59.23-crore multi-speciality block at Kuthuparamba is equipped with 171 beds, a nine-bed medical ICU, four operation theatres, a labour room with four suites, and 12 outpatient departments. Various medical specialities will function within the new block.

He added that Kerala’s infant and maternal mortality rates are comparable to those of developed countries, and its life expectancy of 77 years surpasses the global average of 73.5. These achievements, he said, are the result of sustained government interventions such as the Aardram Mission, which transformed primary health centres into family health centres and strengthened disease prevention.

Health Minister Veena George, who presided over the function, said the Kuthuparamba Taluk Hospital stands as a model for Kerala’s healthcare transformation. She added that cancer treatment is now available at taluk-level hospitals, ensuring access for economically weaker sections. Ms. Veena said that the State has opened 5,417 public health centres, upgraded 740 of them into family health centres, and expanded dialysis facilities to over 150 hospitals. The number of cath labs in government hospitals has increased from four to 22 over the past nine years, while the Malabar Cancer Centre has become the first in India to develop CAR T-cell therapy.

V. Sivadasan, MP, and K.K. Shailaja and K.P. Mohanan, MLAs, were among those present. The event, held at the Kuthuparamba Municipal Stadium, also saw participation from local representatives, officials, and public health workers.