Foreword
Social Service
Homoeopathy
There are 659 homeopathic dispensaries and 34 hospitals with total bed strength of 955 under Homoeopathy Department in the State. In addition, Kerala State Homoeopathic Co-operative pharmacy (HOMCO) Alappuzha, a medicine manufacturing unit is also functioning under the Directorate of Homeopathy. HOMCO is running in profit for the last 20 years. District wise distribution of institutions, beds and patients treated under Homoeopathic Department during 2015 and 2016 is given in Appendix 4.61.
Homoeo Medical Education
Homoeo Medical Education is imparted through two Government Homoeopathic Medical Colleges, at Thiruvananthapuram and Kozhikode. In addition to this 3 aided colleges and one unaided college are functioning under this Department. Total bed strength of the Government Homoeopathic Medical College at Thiruvananthapuram is 108 and the patient treated during 2015-16 in IP was 1106 and OP was 1,17,433. Total bed strength of the Government Homoeopathic Medical College at Kozhikode is 100 and the patient treated during 2015-16 in IP was 1546 and OP was 121442. Annual intake of students and courses in the six Homoeo Medical Colleges are given in Appendix 4.62.
Immunization Coverage
Immunization is one of the most successful and cost effective health interventions and prevents debilitating illness, disability and death from vaccine preventable diseases such as diphtheria, hepatitis A and B, measles, mumps, pneumococcal disease, polio, rotavirus diarrhea and tetanus. The coverage of immunisationprogrammes in Kerala during six years from 2011-12 is given in Appendix 4.63.
Major Achievements of Homoeopathy Department during 2016
- AYUSH Holistic centres for prevention and management of lifestyle diseases were started in Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Ernakulam, Malapuram and Kozhikode integrating the merits of Homoeopathy, Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy systems of medicine.
- Seethalayam is a gender based scheme for the multi- level support, welfare and health care service exclusively for the suffering womenfolk implemented in all District Homoeo Hospitals. De- addiction centres and infertility clinics are also functioning as part of this programme.
- Floating Homoeo Dispensaries were started in the coastal area of Kuttanad in Alappuzha District.
- Endocrine disorder care centre at Idukki, Motherand Child care centre at Kannur, Geriatric care centres at Alappuzha, Kollam, Kozhikode, Kottayam and Wayanad and speciality mobile clinic at Idukki were started under the scheme ‘Homoeopathy Speciality Care Centres’.
- 16 Temporary Homoeo Dispensaries were started at various pilgrim centres during festival season.
- 14 Homoeo Dispensaries (one Dispensary in each district) were upgraded as Model Homoeo Dispensaries and standardised existing 56 Model Homoeo Dispensaries across the State.
- One clinical lab was set up in Government Homoeo Hospital, Pala.
- Regional Medical Stores were started in Kottayam, Malappuram and Kannur
- Adolescent Health Care and Behavioural Management Programme was implemented in all District Homoeo Hospitals
- Second phase expansion of HOMCO was initiated.
- First phase construction of Homoeopathy Directorate Building was completed.
Source: Directorate of Homoeopathy
A healthy society can contribute more significantly and effectively to economic development. Long term illness and expensive treatment costs can even drive non-poor into poverty. High levels of education especially among women and greater health consciousness have played a key role in the attainment of good health standards in Kerala. In the present day, with the mushrooming of private hospitals that offer quality services matching international standards and with the tie up of the healthcare industry with the tourism sector, healthcare in Kerala is growing by leaps and bounds.However, the issues to be addressed are nutritional imbalance of tribal population, second generation issues like old age care, lifestyle diseases viz. heart diseases, diabetes, high blood pressure, and obesity, the changing morbidity pattern in the state viz. Cancer and trauma care and re-emergence of communicable diseases which will have to be matter of serious concern in the coming years. There are issues to be addressed in different areas of general health, rural health, tribal health, women health, mother-child health care, traditional health care system, health insurance, and medical tourism, during the 13th Plan period.The health care system has to be strengthened to face these challenges.