A major cooperative conclave held in Kollam has resolved to strengthen the cooperative sector to counter the growing presence of multinational corporations in Kerala’s healthcare industry.
As an immediate step, cooperative clinics will be launched at the panchayat level within one month. In the next phase, 300-bed cooperative hospitals modeled on the NS Cooperative Hospital will be established in all districts.
The conclave, organized under Vision 2031 by the Department of Cooperation, brought together representatives and experts from across the state at the NS Cooperative Hospital campus. The event was inaugurated by MLA M. Noushad, while Registrar of Cooperative Societies Dr. D. Sajith Babu presented the project blueprint.
Inaugurating the valedictory session, Finance Minister K. N. Balagopal said Kerala is home to some of the country’s finest cooperative institutions and emphasized the need to safeguard the state’s healthcare achievements.
The department will also initiate steps to classify hospital societies under a separate category instead of miscellaneous societies, enabling focused growth of cooperative healthcare institutions.