Kerala Health Department Releases Comprehensive Referral Protocol for Government Hospitals

Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala Health Department has issued a comprehensive referral protocol for government hospitals and medical colleges under its jurisdiction. The protocol aims to reduce the patient load in medical colleges and ensure quality treatment at the nearest available healthcare facility, said Health Minister Veena George.

The first phase of the protocol covers five specialties: internal medicine, general surgery, gynaecology, paediatrics, and orthopaedics. Protocols for other specialties will be issued subsequently. The minister emphasised that patients should not be referred to medical colleges unnecessarily if the local hospital has the required facilities, and all hospitals must strictly adhere to the guidelines.

The first referral protocol was introduced in 2010-11. Considering the growing patient numbers, changes in hospital infrastructure, advancements in treatment methods, and emerging diseases, the health department formulated this comprehensive protocol. A specialised committee was set up in 2023 to review and finalise the detailed guidelines.

Hospitals have been categorised into five groups—Category A, B, C1, C2, and D—based on available manpower and facilities. The protocol specifies the treatments and facilities each category should provide and clearly outlines when and where a patient should be referred, based on clinical signs and risks.

With the implementation of this referral and back-referral protocol, patient congestion in major hospitals, including medical colleges, is expected to reduce. The system allows doctors at lower-tier hospitals to treat patients more accurately within their available resources, minimising unnecessary referrals. This will also encourage patients to seek treatment at the nearest appropriate facility while ensuring better utilisation of healthcare infrastructure across all hospitals.