Kerala’s healthcare push: full ₹2,958 crore grant received, work to expand facilities

Kerala has received the final instalment of ₹647 crore under the health grant allocated by the Fifteenth Finance Commission for the period 2021–26. With this release, the state has fully received its allocated ₹2,958 crore under this category.

According to official data, only six states, including Kerala, have managed to secure the entire grant amount.

Funds to support construction of 273 health centres

The newly received funds will be used for constructing buildings for 273 health centres across the state. This includes:

• 190 Health Sub-centres
• 62 Community Health Centres
• 21 Social Health Centres

The initiative is aimed at improving physical infrastructure and ensuring that more facilities operate from dedicated buildings.

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Expansion of diagnostic and testing facilities

Part of the allocation will also be directed towards strengthening diagnostic services in hospitals. This includes enabling testing for around 64 types of diseases at Primary Health Centres (PHCs).

In addition, funds will support healthcare follow-up activities at 152 block-level health centres to improve access to diagnostics and routine medical services.

Infrastructure coverage across health facilities

With the proposed construction, a larger number of health facilities in the state are expected to have dedicated buildings. This includes:

• 1,205 Health Sub-centres
• 116 Primary Health Centres (PHCs)
• 42 Community Health Centres (CHCs)

The expansion is intended to improve accessibility and functionality of primary healthcare services.

Additional allocations for public health activities

The funds will also be used for:

• Organising public health awareness programmes and camps
• Procuring equipment for dialysis units in urban areas
• Supporting general healthcare infrastructure improvements

These measures are part of broader efforts to enhance preventive and diagnostic healthcare delivery.

Land acquisition challenges remain

Despite earlier relaxations allowing local self-governing bodies to use their own funds to purchase land, progress on land acquisition has been limited.

Reports indicate that more than a thousand health sub-centres still do not have dedicated buildings, highlighting ongoing challenges in infrastructure development at the local level.