Kerala's public health sector under attack from corporate hospital lobbies, says CM Pinarayi Vijayan
He was speaking after inaugurating the newly constructed superspeciality block at Kannur District Hospital on Monday.
The Chief Minister said multinational companies have been making large-scale investments in private healthcare with the primary aim of maximising returns.
'In such hospitals, unnecessary medical tests are conducted, not for the benefit of the patient, but to generate more revenue. Targets and quotas are set for these, making healthcare a profit-driven business rather that a public source,' he said.
'Vested interests'
He warned that 'vested interests' were working to undermine the public health sector 'in any way possible' as it is seen as a barrier to the expansion of corporate healthcare networks.
'Some people, knowingly, are spreading misinformation influenced by corporate strategies. Such elements must be identified and their motives exposed,' he added.
Health Minister Veena George presided over the function, which marked a major upgrade in the district's healthcare infrastructure.
New facilities
Built under Aardram Mission and funded by the Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board (KIIFB), the five-storey facility brings advanced medical services under one roof, with outpatient departments for cardiology, nephrology, and oncology. It also features three modular operation theatres, ICUs, a dialysis unit, and 23 executive pay wards.
Constructed at a cost of ₹61.72 crore, the civil works were completed at ₹39.8 crore and electrical works at ₹21.9 crore. Each of the five floors spans 1,254 square metres, with facilities including two lifts, a sewage treatment plant, fresh water systems, parking space, and a centralised medical gas piping system.
The ground floor includes a reception area, vehicle parking space, and a 110kv substation. The first floor has nine OP consultation rooms, a 150-seat waiting lounge, pharmacy, and UPS rooms. The second floor is equipped with modular operation theatres, pre-anaesthesia and recovery areas, surgical and medical ICUs. The third floor features a dialysis unit with 22 machines, five pay wards and a peritoneal dialysis room, while the fourth floor has a 30-bed general ward and nursing station.
The facility enhances patient care by integrating services such as general medicine, orthopaedics, gynaecology, dental, psychiatry, ENT, paediatrics, physical medicine, trauma care and adolescent clinics under one roof.
It is estimated that over 3,000 patients currently visit the district hospital's OPs daily.
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