Kerala Health care and Hygiene

Thanks to the undulating nature of the terrain, heavy rains, strong sunlight and absence of nucleated villages, Kerala did not till recently have problems of slums formation and environmental pollution. There are many factors that have played their part in the formulation and success of Kerala health and what is today known as the Kerala Model of health. The state has a highly literate population with exceptionally high female literacy rates.

The social and political environment of Kerala has also been fairly conductive to the upliftment of the poor and needy. This improved living conditions of the landless poor and contributed to the alleviation of poverty, leading to the improvement of their health. The public distribution system of food through fair priced ration shops throughout Kerala assures minimum food at relatively low cost. This has assured certain amount of nutritional status to the poor, warding off poverty related diseases. To universally available public heath system has also contributed to the high Kerala health status of the people.

Kerala health care has a three tier system of: primary health centers and the community heath centers, taluk and district hospitals and medical colleges evenly distributed both in urban and rural areas. In Kerala the treatment expenses are much cheaper which make the state an ideal destination for health retreat. Added to this is the magic of Kerala ayurveda - the rejuvenating therapy the state is known for.

European medicine, indigenous systems like Kerala ayurveda are widely popular and people were accustomed to getting professional help rather than indulging in self treatment. Thus when the state of Kerala was officially formed in 1956 the foundation of a healthcare system was already in place. The period from the formation of the state till the early 80’s saw a rapid increase in the growth and expansion of health services.