Centre promises genetics institute, trauma care centers and insurance boost for Kerala

Union Health Minister J P Nadda, during a meeting with Kerala’s health minister, outlined a package of central assistance aimed at modernising the state’s health ecosystem. Among the key proposals was the creation of India’s first genetics institute in Kerala, a project that will be driven by a formal proposal from the state government.

The minister also pledged to strengthen district hospitals by setting up dedicated trauma‑care centres across all districts, thereby improving emergency response capabilities.

In the insurance arena, Nadda gave a theoretical nod to Kerala’s request for higher coverage limits under the Ayushman Bharat health insurance scheme, promising to review and enhance the package.

Further commitments covered the upgrade of three mental‑health facilities, the supply of human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines for school‑age girls, and additional funding for the National Health Mission to bridge existing fiscal gaps.

Kerala’s health minister thanked the central government for the positive response, noting that the announced measures align with the state’s goal of expanding medical education, enhancing public‑health infrastructure, and ensuring broader access to specialised treatments.