A one-day health conclave organised by the United Democratic Front (UDF) here on Friday sought to find an alternative health-care model for the State.
Leader of the Opposition V.D. Satheesan, who inaugurated the conclave, said the event was organised since the Opposition felt that it should take the lead in exploring what is ailing the State’s health sector and offer better alternatives.
Focus areas
A Health Commission had been set up by the UDF to explore the core areas in the health sector where the State needed to do better. The focus had to be on improving primary care and special geriatric services in district and taluk hospitals. Mental health was another area where much more needed to be done.
Mr. Satheesan said the discussions initiated by the conclave on various issues in the State’s health sector would continue. The conclave’s outcome would be compiled into a document by January, which could serve as a roadmap for Kerala’s healthcare system.
Issues discussed
Over 250 experts, including leading doctors from the U.S., U.K., Canada, Bahrain, and Dubai, joined the deliberations. Issues discussed included infrastructure deficiencies, health financing, equity in health, emergency medicine, infectious and chronic diseases, women’s and children’s health, transgender health, mental health, the need for specialised geriatric care, One Health and other emerging future challenges in health.
The UDF Health Commission, chaired by public health expert S.S. Lal, will prepare the Health Commission document based on the conclave.
Published – August 22, 2025 08:57 pm IST
