Crumbling Walls, Critical Care: Kerala’s Hospitals Sound the Alarm
When a hospital—the very place we turn to for healing—becomes a danger zone, it's a crisis that demands immediate attention. That’s exactly what’s unfolding across Kerala, where a recent government survey has flagged 134 hospital buildings as unsafe or unusable.
This isn’t just a statistic. It’s a wake-up call.
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⚠️ The Kottayam Collapse: A Tragic Trigger
The urgency of the situation intensified after the collapse of a 68-year-old block at Kottayam Medical College, which claimed the life of a worker. This avoidable tragedy shed light on years of neglect and poor maintenance across several government hospital campuses.
Following this, district administrations have started demolishing critical structures, but much of the damage—both physical and systemic—remains untouched.
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📊 Breakdown of the Problem
Total unsafe hospital buildings: 134
Highest concentration: Ernakulam district (41 buildings)
Other high-risk districts include Thiruvananthapuram, Kottayam, and Kozhikode
Several buildings were constructed over 60–70 years ago with no retrofitting or structural audits.
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🧱 Why Are These Buildings Still in Use?
Lack of funding, bureaucratic delays, and resistance to shut down functioning wards are just a few reasons. Many of these buildings are:
Still housing ICUs, wards, or outpatient services
Being used due to lack of alternate space or budget constraints
Operating without emergency exits, seismic resistance, or fire safety compliance
In short: the system is running on borrowed time.
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🏗️ What’s Being Done?
Health Department has issued an urgent call for structural audits in all public health buildings.
Some districts have begun demolitions; others are preparing tenders for rebuilding projects.
Engineers and safety experts have been brought in to evaluate each structure on a case-by-case basis.
But experts warn: assessments without swift action will only delay the next disaster.
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🔍 What Needs to Change?
1. Regular Structural Audits: Not just post-tragedy. These must be institutionalized every 5 years.
2. Dedicated Hospital Infrastructure Fund: A state-level emergency fund to renovate or replace old blocks.
3. Temporary Medical Units: To ensure no interruption of care when demolition is necessary.
4. Transparency: Publish safety status of hospital buildings online for public accountability.
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🗣️ Final Thoughts
Healthcare isn't just about doctors and equipment. It's about safe spaces where care can be given without risk.
Kerala—often praised for its medical system—must now prove that safety is as much a priority as service. The numbers are scary, but they also present an opportunity: to rebuild better, safer, and stronger.