Lok Sabha Question No. 1295 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-02-06
Subject: Poor Public Health Infrastructure in Kerala
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Shri Rajmohan Unnithan

## GOVERNMENTOFINDIA MINISTRYOF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE DEPARTMENTOFHEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1295 TO BE ANSWERED ON 06.02.2026

## POOR PUBLIC HEALTH INFRASTRUCTURE IN KERALA

## 1295. SHRI RAJMOHAN UNNITHAN:

## Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government is aware that Kasaragod district continues to face serious public health infrastructure deficiencies, forcing patients to travel long distances or depend on private hospitals in neighbouring States, if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether it is a fact that critically ill patients, including endosulfan-affected persons, face severe hardship due to the lack of tertiary and super-speciality care facilities within the district, if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the Government has assessed the regional imbalance in advanced healthcare availability in Northern Kerala, if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether any proposal for establishing a central-level medical institution or upgrading existing facilities in Kasaragod has been examined, if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) the steps taken/proposed to be taken by the Government to ensure equitable access to quality healthcare for geographically isolated districts of the country?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (SHRI PRATAPRAO JADHAV)

(a) to (e): The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare provides technical and financial support to the States/UTs including Kerala to strengthen the public healthcare system, based on the proposals received in the form of Programme Implementation Plans (PIPs) under National Health Mission. Government of India provides approval for the proposal in the form of Record of Proceedings (RoPs) as per norms & available resources. Details of the approvals given for the strengthening healthcare in rural areas of the country are available at website of Ministry of Health and Family Welfare at the Uniform Resources Locator (URL) as under:

## https://nhm.gov.in/index1.php?lang=1&level=1&sublinkid=1377&lid=744

Further, teleconsultation services are available at all operational AAMs across the country including rural areas, enables people to access the specialist services closer to their homes addressing concerns of physical accessibility, shortage of service providers and to facilitate continuum of care.

Also, Mobile Medical Units (MMUs) are supported under NHM to provide outreach services in remote villages with difficult terrain which are underserved and inaccessible. As per NHM-MIS report, a total of 1477 MMUs have been deployed across the country, as on 30.06.2025.

PM Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM-ABHIM) envisages increased investments in public health and other health reforms to provide better access to health in rural areas. Administrative approvals have been accorded to the State of Kerala for five years (i.e. FY 2021-22 to 2025-2026) for an amount of Rs. 404.63 Cr. for construction/ strengthening of 14 IPHLs at District level and 14 CCBs at District Hospitals and Medical college level.

Also, one (01) Integrated Public Health Labs (IPHL) and one (01) Critical Care Blocks (CCB) have been accorded to the district of Kasargod in the FY 2023-24.

Under Fifteenth Finance Commission (FC-XV) for the State of Kerala, Rs.2958.02 Crore has been approved for the five year period from FY 2021-22 to FY 2025-26 and Rs. 2310.96 Cr. has been released so far for establishment and strengthening of 1205 Building less SHCs, 116 Building less PHCs, 41 Building less CHCs, 152 Block Public Health Units, and 380 Urban- AAMs.

The Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY) aims at correcting regional imbalances in the availability of affordable tertiary healthcare services and to augment facilities for quality medical education in the country. Under the Scheme approvals has been accorded for upgradation of four Government Medical Colleges/ Institutions (GMCIs) at for the State of Kerala. Details are as under:

| State   |   No. | Name of GMC/ Institute              | Approved Infrastructure                        |
|---------|-------|-------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------|
| Kerala  |     1 | Medical College, Thiruvananthapuram | Super Speciality Block                         |
| Kerala  |     2 | Kozhikode Medical College           | Trauma Care Centre with Super Speciality Block |
| Kerala  |     3 | T.D. Medical College, Alappuzha     | Super Speciality Block                         |
| Kerala  |     4 | SCTIMST, Trivandrum                 | Super Speciality Block                         |

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