The physical environment in most parts of Kerala is conducive to health, Kerala has made commendable achievements in health standards. The factors contributing to such unique situation was a wide network of health infrastructure, manpower, policies of State Government etc and other social factors like women’s education, general health awareness and clean health habits of the people.

Particulars as on 1-4-2001

	Number	Beds
(a) . Hospitals	143	31933
(b). CHC	105	4415
(c). PHC	943	5215
(d). Dispensaries	54	176
(e). T.B.Centres / Clinics	21	240
(f). Leprosy Control Units	15	-
(g). ESI Hospital / Dispensaries	134	676

ALLOPATHY

Bed Population Ratio	Government Private	1:785 1:461
Doctor Population Ratio	Government Private	1:5319 1:2955
Nurse Doctor Ratio	Government Private	1:2.15 1:1.6

Health Infrastructure

The State Department of Health and Family Welfare under the Minister for Health, guides and supervises the Health and Family Welfare programme in the state. The Secretary and Additional Secretary to the Government, Health and Family Welfare Department has overall responsibility in administration and programme implementation. The Allopathic system has three major wings, viz. Directorate of Health Services, Directorate of Medical Education and Directorate of ESI Medical services which is under the labour department. In addition to modern medicine, there are two Directorates of indigenous medicines viz. Ayurveda and Homeopathy.

Directorate of Health Services
At the State level the programmes on Health and Family Welfare are implemented, supervised and co-ordinated by the Director of Health Services. The various programmes are looked after by Additional Director of Health Services, who are assisted either by Deputy Directors of Health Services or Assistant Directors of Health Services.

District
At the district level District Medical Officer of Health in the rank of Deputy Director of Health Services ( and Additional Director of Health Services in 3 corporation) is in charge of all the health and family welfare activities. The DMO’s are assisted by Deputy DMOs in the cadre of ADHS ( and Dy. DHS in the 3 corporation) and other technical and ministerial staff.

Peripheral Institutions
At the end of March 1997 there was 1274 Government Medical institutions in the state with a total bed strength of 38943. Of these 150 are Hospitals (including MCHs), 956 are PHCs, 80 are CHCs and 52 are Dispensaries, besides 21 T.B Centre / Clinic and 15 Leprosy Control Unit.