World Bank program to expand health coverage for 11 million people in Kerala

THEBUSINESSBYTES BUREAU

NEW DELHI, OCTOBER 24, 2025

The World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors has approved a new program aimed at improving the life expectancy and quality of life for 11 million elderly and vulnerable individuals in Kerala by expanding access to health coverage and building more resilient health systems.

Kerala has made significant health improvements over the past two decades, marked by a decline in neonatal (3.4 per 1,000 live births), infant (4.4 per 1,000 live births), and under-five mortality rates (5.2 per 1,000 live births), as well as maternal mortality (19 per 100,000 live births). These gains are attributed to high literacy rates, public health awareness, and decentralized governance. However, the state now faces rising challenges due to the growing prevalence of non-communicable diseases like hypertension, diabetes, and cancer, alongside a rapidly aging population, with over 20 per cent  of the population over 60 years old. Additionally, there are significant gaps in emergency and trauma care, with over 4,000 deaths annually from road traffic accidents.

The $280 million Kerala Health System Improvement Program is designed to enhance the state’s health infrastructure by making it more climate-resilient. The program will strengthen Kerala’s digital health systems, including expanded eHealth services, integrated data platforms, and improved cybersecurity. It also aims to track and manage over 90% of patients with hypertension and diabetes through electronic monitoring systems. A key feature of the program is the introduction of a home-based care model for elderly and bedridden individuals to ensure comprehensive health services for the most vulnerable.

“Good health empowers individuals, creates jobs, and drives economic growth. Strong, resilient health systems also help economies respond more effectively to health emergencies and pandemics,” said Paul Procee, the World Bank’s Acting Country Director for India. “In Kerala, where women have some of the highest educational attainments in the country, better health outcomes will enable them to contribute even more to the state’s economic progress. This program aims to increase hypertension control rates by 40 per cent  and boost cervical and breast cancer screenings for women by 60 per cent  , accelerating efforts to eliminate preventable deaths.”

The program will also collaborate with local government bodies, such as gram panchayats and municipal corporations, to implement standardized protocols for antibiotic use and improve responses to zoonotic disease outbreaks by streamlining laboratory data. Primary health centers in districts like Wayanad, Kozhikode, Kasaragod, Palakkad, and Alappuzha will adopt climate-smart solutions to enhance energy efficiency and better manage extreme weather events, such as heatwaves and floods.

“Kerala’s adoption of One Health approaches, along with lessons learned from ongoing World Bank projects, has laid the groundwork for a robust system of community surveillance,” said Deepika Chaudhery and Hikuepi Katjiuongua, Task Team Leaders for the program. “This initiative will ensure that elderly people in Kerala receive broader health coverage and support the creation of a multi-tiered trauma and emergency care system, ensuring timely, high-quality services for 8.5 million people.”

The $280 million loan, provided by the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), has a maturity period of 25 years, with a five-year grace period.