Kerala Health Minister K. Muraleedharan has said the State government is ready to collaborate with the private sector to strengthen infrastructure in government hospitals and medical colleges by effectively utilising Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) funds from banks and other institutions.
The Minister said the initiative aims to improve healthcare facilities while ensuring greater public benefit through strategic public-private collaboration.
CSR to Strengthen Healthcare Infrastructure
Speaking at the Kerala University of Health Sciences (KUHS), Muraleedharan said the government is committed to enhancing the quality of healthcare and education in the State.
He noted that partnerships with corporates through CSR funding can help upgrade infrastructure in government hospitals and medical colleges, improving access to quality healthcare for citizens.
KUHS Launches New Academic and Public Health Initiatives
During the event, the Minister inaugurated four major initiatives at KUHS, including:
- MSc in Medical Bioinformatics, the university’s first on-campus academic programme.
- A medicinal plant garden developed with support from the National Medicinal Plants Board and technical assistance from the Kerala Forest Research Institute (KFRI).
- A YouTube channel to promote evidence-based public health awareness.
- An e-learning studio that will deliver master classes across multiple academic disciplines.
Focus on Public Health Awareness
Launching the university’s YouTube channel, Muraleedharan highlighted the growing spread of misinformation on issues such as COVID-19 and organ transplantation.
He said scientifically verified health awareness programmes from academic institutions would help educate the public and counter misinformation.
The Minister also praised KUHS for its awareness campaigns on snakebite prevention and said the medicinal plant garden would support the Ayurveda sector by helping address the shortage of medicinal plants.
Strengthening Medical Education
KUHS Vice-Chancellor Prof. Dr. Mohanan Kunnummal said bringing Government Medical College, Thrissur, under the university as a constituent college would significantly strengthen health research and urged the government to expedite the proposal, which has already been included in the State Budget.
Author
About the Author
