“ Insights into healthcare system in Kerala – lessons to be learnt”

Title : “ Insights into healthcare system in Kerala – lessons to be learnt”

Abstract:

Introduction: The State of Kerala that lies in the southernmost part of India due to its significant gains in health indices has become a name synonymous in the world of healthcare. With a population of over 33.4 million people, Kerala has consistently been a prominent player with better health outcomes in number of areas compared to most other States in India*. Lower infant mortality rate, lower maternal mortality rate, low death rate and high life expectancy made up Kerala regard the world over a State in focus amongst all other Indian States. When the Family Health Centre, at Kottakkal in Malappuram district in Kerala was adjudged the best primary health centre in India this year as per the quality certification programme of NQAS, Kerala donned another feather to its cap for achievement in the healthcare sector.

The Healthcare System & Reforms: The multilayered health system in vogue in Kerala is designed to provide access for basic services at the community level and primary level through an integrated healthcare coverage encompassing a range of preventive and curative services. With a three-tier system of self-governance in 14 districts of the State of Kerala, the Primary Health Centre and Community Health Centres, and referring Sub-centres, Kerala took significant strides to better the health needs of the people. Since the Primary Health Centres have limited inpatient facilities, the Government of Kerala brought in reform to convert Primary Health Centres to Family Health Centres as the first point of care for any illness for every family under its jurisdiction to deliver patient friendly, quality healthcare services in Government sector. A significant characteristic of the reforms was introducing specialty clinics to address the burden of diseases like COPD and Asthma and even depression screening. In fact, FHCs have escalated quality-wise government health facilities in the State, by gauging from the fact that out of 932 primary care facilities in the State, 85 primary care facilities in the State secured NQAS certification. The transformation to FHCs also ensured fully stocked pharmacies, diagnostics, patient amenities, manpower and additional deployment of doctors leading to improved service utilization and reduced cost of care beneficial to the people. The positive impacts on the clinical side became more focused with the post-transformation to Family Health Centres.

Conclusion: With FHC programme, built on a strong edifice of reforms, backed by community participation, is steadily progressing under the committed “Aardram Mission” of the Kerala Government, the health care infrastructure in the State is poised to spread in furtherance for improved service delivery. One such initiative of the Government is to establish comprehensive Cancer grid integrating all cancer centres to streamline cancer treatment. With such intervention capabilities the preventive care pave way for a healthier and more economically resilient future for individuals and the Kerala’s healthcare system.

Key words: PHC – Primary Health Centre, FHC – Family Health Centre, NQAS – National Quality Assurance Standards, COPD – Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Biography:

A multi-disciplinary academic Post-graduate and Doctoral Degree holder, across his career in Spices Board of India, he has handled myriad roles as Editor and Deputy Marketing Director and gained insightful experience in Marketing, Export Promotion, New Product Development, Quality and Safety of spices and spice products spanning over three decades. He gained hands on experience in policy formulation related to marketing, export promotion and export development including market access initiative projects in overseas markets, up-gradation of technology, and organised several National Seminars and Buyer-seller meets of Spices Board. He was a Master trainer and Resource Person. He had presented several Papers in National and International Seminars and Workshops, besides being officiated as Chief Rapporteur in International Conferences. A well-travelled person, Suresh has gained rich cross cultural experience from Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, Singapore, USA, Brazil, China, Tokyo, UAE, Switzerland and Bahrain.He has been teaching at prestigious Universities like IGNOU, Government of India and Pondicherry University as a Senior Guest Faculty over the last 30 years in multi-disciplinary subjects at Bachelor and Master Level. As media personnel, he did programmes over Television as Anchor, director, and producer and also covered national and international events for print media having credit for over 300 articles in leading English publications. He is a recipient of Fellowship under UNDP Programme. A multilingual, he is proficient in English, Malayalam, Tamil and modestly in French.