Thiruvananthapuram, Oct 31 (UNI) Kerala became the first state in the country to roll out a fully integrated public-sector diagnostic laboratory network, linking government labs across the state under the "Nirnaya" initiative.
The pioneering hub-and-spoke model connects around 1,300 government laboratories, including over 200 hub labs and around 1,100 spoke labs, enabling comprehensive diagnostic services at the grassroots level.
The network is aimed at standardising testing, improving quality, and ensuring faster access to test results for the public.
The Nirnaya system strengthens lab infrastructure from Thiruvananthapuram to Kasaragod, making 131 types of tests available free or at nominal rates. It marks a major step in Kerala's efforts to decentralise and democratise diagnostic services.
Under Nirnaya, seven key categories of laboratory services: Basic tests, advanced diagnostics, AMR (Antimicrobial Resistance) surveillance, metabolic screening, TB and cancer screening, outbreak investigation tests, and infectious disease detection and surveillance, will now be accessible at the Family Health Centre (FHC) level itself, Health Minister Veena George said.
Test results will be delivered through the Kerala Government e-Health portal, SMS, and the meHealth mobile app. India Post will collaborate with the Health Department to facilitate service delivery, she explained.
Officials said the initiative will ensure early and accurate diagnosis, timely treatment, and a significant reduction in out-of-pocket medical expenses for patients.
It also eliminates the need for patients to travel to distant labs for advanced tests, as samples will be collected locally and processed within the network, with results sent directly to registered mobile numbers.
Nirnaya forms a key component of Kerala's Nava Kerala Action Plan and the Aardram Mission, both aimed at transforming public healthcare and achieving universal health coverage in the state.