Kerala is set to significantly upgrade its public health system with a ₹1,800-crore investment plan focused on expanding hospital capacity, specialized care and medical research. The state government will roll out multiple projects this month, a move Health Minister Veena George says will improve access to advanced as well as routine healthcare services for residents.
————————
The Kerala government has unveiled a major healthcare development package valued at over ₹1,800 crore. The programme is intended to strengthen the state’s health infrastructure while improving public access to advanced and reliable medical services.
State Health Minister Veena George said several prominent medical projects will be rolled out across Kerala during the current month. The initiatives are expected to enhance both specialized treatment facilities and routine healthcare services available to the population.
Major Components
One of the flagship projects is the Institute of Organ Transplantation in Kozhikode, which will be inaugurated by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. Constructed at an estimated cost of ₹643.88 crore, the institute is planned as a centre of excellence for transplant medicine, providing advanced procedures, post-surgery care and rehabilitation support.
Another important facility under the plan is the Cochin Cancer Research Center (CCRC), being developed for about ₹387 crore. The center aims to expand cancer screening, treatment and research capabilities in central Kerala, a region where government-run oncology infrastructure has been relatively limited.
The Kottayam Government Medical College Hospital will also see major upgrades with the addition of an eight-storey surgical block housing 526 beds. The project, costing nearly ₹257 crore, is expected to increase surgical capacity and improve critical care services.
Meanwhile, the Regional Cancer Center in Thiruvananthapuram is set for expansion through the construction of a 14-storey building worth roughly ₹242.42 crore, which will address space shortages and improve patient management.
In addition, the state plans to establish the International Research Institute of Ayurveda in Kannur across a 300-acre campus. The facility will include a 100-bed hospital, research laboratories and medicinal plant resources to promote evidence-based Ayurveda studies. The programme also covers the second phase of expansion of the Kerala State Homoeopathic Cooperative Pharmacy in Alappuzha, aimed at boosting its production capacity.
(Photo courtesy: facebook/veenageorgeofficial)