Kerala Revised budget: New cancer center on cards in Malappuram

The Kerala government’s revised budget for 2026–27, presented by Chief Minister VD Satheesan on Friday (19 June 2026), earmarked ₹5 crore as an initial allocation to upgrade the Taluk Government Hospital in Malappuram town to a super-specialty general hospital, a move long seen as the answer to a full-fledged general hospital.

Malappuram district had a general hospital at Manjeri, which was upgraded to a government medical college in 2013. The move essentially left the district without its original general hospital. Since then, the medical school has faced infrastructural constraints in further expansion due to its location in a congested urban area.

Over the years, there have been persistent demands either to shift the Government Medical College at Manjeri to a more suitable location outside the city or to set up an alternative multi-specialty general hospital in the district.

The latest budget presented by the United Democratic Front (UDF) government now addresses this demand and is instilling new optimism among the people of Malappuram.

Apart from upgrading the hospital, the budget allocated ₹10 crore for setting up a modern cancer center in Malappuram. The government is expected to identify suitable land for the proposed facility soon.

Currently, thousands of cancer patients from Malappuram and neighboring districts depend on the Regional Cancer Center in Thiruvananthapuram for advanced treatment.

Industries Minister PK Kunhalikutty welcomed the allocations to the health sector, saying the proposals reflected the region’s key development priorities.

Mr. Kunhalikutty also pointed out that the budget envisaged development projects worth around ₹ 200 crore for Malappuram across sectors such as PWD, tourism, education, sports, revenue, health, irrigation and culture.

The budget also made a notable cultural announcement for Ponnani and proposed a Malabar-Thindis Cultural Biennale on the lines of the Kochi Biennale. While no specific funding has been made at this stage, the announcement has raised expectations for future cultural initiatives in the region.

On the infrastructure front, ₹3 crore has been allocated for the construction of a coastal protection wall at Ponnani, with additional funding expected from institutions like NABARD, according to Chief Minister VD Satheesan.

Further, ₹ 1 million was earmarked in collaboration with the Namboothiri Trust to set up a cultural center and museum in memory of artist Namboothiri. The budget also earmarked ₹5 crore for the renovation of the Koottay regulation bridge to boost local connectivity and infrastructure.

Published – 19 Jun 2026 23:22 IST