Thiruvananthapuram, Nov 11 (UNI) The Kerala Health Department has introduced a comprehensive referral protocol for hospitals under the Health Department and medical colleges under the Medical Education Department.
The initiative aims to reduce overcrowding in medical colleges and ensure that patients receive effective treatment at hospitals closest to their homes.
In the first phase, referral guidelines have been issued for five major specialties: Internal Medicine, General Surgery, Gynaecology, Paediatrics, and Orthopaedics. Protocols for other specialties will be released in subsequent phases.
Kerala Health Minister Veena George made it clear that patients should not be referred to medical colleges when adequate facilities and treatment options are available at the referring hospital. Strict adherence to the protocol has been directed for all hospitals.
Kerala first introduced a referral protocol in 2010–11. However, factors such as the sharp rise in patient numbers, changes in hospital infrastructure, advancements in medical care, and the emergence of new diseases prompted a complete revamp. In 2023, an expert committee was set up to review the system in detail and prepare a revised framework.
Hospitals have now been classified into five categories — A, B, C1, C2, and D — based on manpower and infrastructure. The protocol outlines the facilities and treatments expected at each category of hospital. It also specifies the clinical warning signs that require referral and clearly states which hospital category patients should be referred to in each situation.
Implementation of the referral and back-referral system is expected to ease the burden on medical colleges and major hospitals.
With clarity on the scope of treatment at each level, doctors can offer more accurate care within their available facilities, reducing unnecessary referrals.
The system is also intended to discourage patients from directly approaching major hospitals, ensuring quality care across all levels of the public healthcare network.
