Kerala has set its sights on becoming India’s first state to achieve universal health coverage by 2031, Health Minister Veena George announced while unveiling the state’s long-term healthcare roadmap — “Kerala’s Health Sector Vision 2031.”
Speaking at the Vision 2031 – Health Seminar, the minister outlined a comprehensive plan to make quality healthcare accessible to every citizen. The initiative focuses on decentralizing specialty medical services, strengthening primary healthcare infrastructure, and enhancing trauma and emergency care systems across all districts.
Under the government’s flagship insurance scheme, Karunya Arogya Suraksha Padhathi (KASP), over 4.22 million families currently benefit from medical coverage of up to ₹5 lakh per household. The government aims to expand this coverage in the coming years, ensuring no family is left behind in accessing essential health services.
Kerala is also intensifying its fight against lifestyle and non-communicable diseases (NCDs) with large-scale preventive programs — including home-based health screenings for those above 30, school-level health initiatives, yoga clubs through the AYUSH department, and extensive cancer screening drives that have already reached more than 20 lakh people.
To fortify its healthcare ecosystem further, the state plans to introduce an epidemic intelligence system, strengthen disease surveillance networks, and upgrade all medical colleges into full-fledged tertiary care centers. Traditional medicine and research, particularly Ayurveda, will also receive renewed focus as part of the broader health vision.
Highlighting Kerala’s long-standing leadership in healthcare innovation, Minister Veena George said the ultimate goal is to transform the state into a global health hub, ensuring equitable and high-quality medical services for every citizen — and setting a model for the rest of India to follow.
