Full Time Research Scholar,
It is argued that health sector in Kerala is efficient compared to its counterparts in other Indian states. Kerala's health care sector is well-known for its diversity and geographical diffusion. Kerala is noted for its achievements in the fields of health and education. It is the only state in India having at least one health care delivery institution in each of its Panchayath. Moreover all Panchayaths, except a few, have Primary Health Centres. But Nature and quality of the rural public health care system is poor compared to its urban counterparts. On the other hand, private health sector is far ahead of the public sector in terms of infrastructure and other attributes of provision and utilization of health care services. Therefore, this paper seeks to investigate the unused or underused potential of government hospitals in Kerala, India. The study reveals that the number and distribution of various health care institutions under Health services department are not distributed as per a standard norms, but often based on other socio-political and economic factors. As also, there is gross disparity in the number of institutions in across panchayats, across Municipalities, across Taluks and across Districts. There exists no uniformity in service provision, bed strength and staff structure. Some institutions are too small and under-developed whereas certain others of the same category are too unwieldy. Bed strength of certain institutions is too large when compared to that of some others of the same category. There are vast differences in infrastructure facilities available. Institutions of the same category often differ widely in quantity and quality of services provided.
Hospitals, Infrastructure
