Many public sector health facilities in Kerala, including district, general and taluk hospitals and public health laboratories, are yet to be registered under the Kerala Clinical Facilities (Registration and Regulation) Act, 2018.
By March 1 this year, a total of 13,633 institutions had obtained provisional registration and 3,021 had obtained permanent registration. This was revealed in response to an RTI query raised by KV Babu, an ophthalmologist and activist from Kannur. Details of Ernakulam and Palakkad districts were not available.
In Kottayam district, seven government institutions, including Kottayam Government General Hospital and Taluk Government Hospital, Kuravilangad and 67 private facilities are yet to get approval. In Malappuram district, six government institutions, including a public health laboratory, and 80 private facilities are listed. In Idukki, six government institutions, including the government district hospital, and 13 private facilities have not received approval.
In Kollam, 33 government establishments, including the district public health laboratory and the GD police hospital, and 94 private institutions are outside the purview of the law. In Alappuzha district, nine government and 20 private institutions are yet to get approval. In Kannur district, nine government institutions and 76 private establishments were not approved. Seven government institutions and 90 private institutions were not approved in Thiruvananthapuram district.
“This available data should be an eye-opener for the new government in enforcing the law,” said Dr. Grandma.
Hospitals, laboratories, dental clinics, AYUSH health centers and all institutions – irrespective of the availability of inpatient facilities – providing diagnosis or treatment are classified as clinical establishments. They are also required to visibly display their registration certificates. The Kerala High Court in November last year dismissed petitions challenging the implementation of the law and expressed strong displeasure over the inordinate delay in enforcing the law. Following this, the state government also issued a directive that made registration mandatory.
Published – 16 May 2026 19:39 IST
