ABSTRACT
Health and socioeconomic developments are so closely intertwined and it is impossible to achieve one without the other. Persistent and growing socioeconomic gaps result in major discrepancies in the quality of people's health. It calls us to realize that health is an investment in the future. Kerala, one of the southern states in India, is branded as a model and it is unique that the standards achieved are comparable with that of the developed countries. A successful primary healthcare infrastructure tested decades back is the myth behind the epic level of the healthcare system in Kerala. There is an urgent need for greater political will and increased funding for essential health services. This paper at first, explores the healthcare scenario in Kerala – expenditure and outcome over a period of 40 years to make an assessment about the commitment shown by government over the years to build a robust infrastructure. It then examines the situation of Covid-19 in Kerala focusing on the lacunae in the system - which showed strains when cases started increasing. Further, it highlights the importance of healthcare investment for improving healthcare infrastructure and proposes ways to improve the system. In the last part of the paper, we would be discussing the importance of Public-Private Partnership model in improving health infrastructure in the state. © 2023 DMICS.