Kerala govt seeks Centre’s permission to use forest land for Wayanad MCH expansion

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Kerala Health Minister K. Muraleedharan | Photo Credit: K Ragesh

Kerala Health Minister K. Muraleedharan has said that the State government has sought the Centre’s permission to hand over 28 acres of revenue land to the Forest department in return for a similar parcel of land for the development of the Government Medical College Hospital (MCH) at Mananthavady in Wayanad.

Mr. Muraleedharan was in Kozhikode on Tuesday to open the State-level launch of ‘Kayakalpam’, an outreach initiative to gather public opinion on the deficiencies in the health system and patient care services. It also aims to seek suggestions on how health service delivery can be improved to meet people’s expectations.

Mr. Muraleedharan said the Wayanad MCH needed over 28 acres for forest land for its expansion. “However, the Forest department needs a similar parcel of land in return. We have now sought the Union government’s permission to do so,” he said.

Mr. Muraleedharan claimed that the government was planning to use corporate social responsibility funds for the development works in public hospitals.

He said the previous Left Democratic Front government had left behind crores of rupees as dues to be given to various agencies and others. “Till March 31, 2026, the government has to give ₹2,017 crore to hospitals for insurance claims under the Karunya Arogya Suraksha Padhathi (KASP). Kerala Medical Services Corporation Ltd. has to be given ₹476 crore. Distributors of surgical devices have stopped their supply after their dues crossed ₹150 crore. This is even affecting surgeries to save those suffering from life-threatening diseases,” he said.

Mr. Muraleedharan claimed that because of this situation, many private hospitals had either stopped accepting claims under schemes such as KASP or Medisep or were discouraging such admissions.

The Minister also took a dig at Beypore’s LDF MLA P.A. Mohamed Riyas for his absence from the event.

Meanwhile, responding to a request from Shafi Parambil, MP, Mr. Muraleedha