Income limits will no longer be a criterion for accessing pay ward facilities in government hospitals in Kerala.

Health Minister K. Muraleedharan has directed the Principal Secretary (Health) to issue an order so that pay ward facilities in government hospitals are made available to all patients regardless of their income levels.

Currently, in government hospitals, pay ward facilities managed by the Kerala Health Research and Welfare Society (KHRWS) can be accessed only by those patients whose income, as noted on the OP ticket, is above ₹1,600. Patients with lower incomes could not access pay wards.

Moreover, people arriving with patients at casualty departments do not always note their income accurately on the OP card. This becomes a problem when they seek pay ward facilities later. In order to book a pay ward by correcting the income status, one has to submit an application to the Hospital Superintendent, obtain approval from the Lay Secretary and then get the correction made at the Medical Records department. These cumbersome processes have been eliminated through the government decision

Mr. Muraleedharan said that the decision was taken as part of making treatment facilities in government hospitals more people-friendly and accessible to all.

Published - August 07, 2026 07:34 pm IST