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

Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala government has announced plans to introduce round-the-clock specialist medical services at district and general hospitals across the state, with the initiative aimed at bringing advanced healthcare closer to people’s homes. The programme will cover key departments including general medicine, surgery, orthopaedics, paediatrics and gynaecology, with specialist treatment and surgeries also planned during night hours.

The first phase of the initiative is expected to be implemented within six months, with at least one hospital in every district selected initially before the programme is expanded to other government hospitals. The move is intended to improve access to specialist care at the local level and reduce the pressure on medical colleges, particularly for patients requiring treatment outside regular working hours.

The Health Department has appointed Dr Shinu K.S., Additional Director of its Administration and Training wing, as the Special Officer to coordinate implementation. The department will assess existing hospital infrastructure and determine requirements for doctors, nurses and paramedical personnel before deploying resources and undertaking necessary upgrades. The government expects the initiative to strengthen public healthcare delivery and make district hospitals more capable of handling specialised and emergency medical needs.