“A Study on Effectiveness of Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) in Health Care System in the State of Kerala”

KDS has initiated a Planning Commission sponsored study on effectiveness of Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) in health care system in the State of Kerala. As Kerala is one among the states where the implementation of the Panchayati Raj Act has been successfully done and all 29 subjects, including health, mentioned in the Eleventh Schedule of the Constitution have been transferred to the PRIs and their functions are clearly demarcated among the three tiers, Planning Commission has assigned a study to KDS to capture the picture of functioning of health institutions in Kerala. The findings of the proposed study will enable Planning Commission to formulate an action plan to enhance the role of PRIs in public health delivery system and to tackle associated problems, especially issues related to duality of responsibilities and controls in health care system. The specific objectives of the study are as follows:

• Critically examine the structure of public health institutions and devolution of functions, funds and functionaries to PRIs in health care system in the State of Kerala.


• Analyse role of bureaucracy and assess the impact of duality of responsibilities and controls in health care system in the State of Kerala.


• Identify problems and deficiencies on account of duality of controls and responsibilities and suggest measures to improve rural health delivery system.


• Formulate an action plan for increased participation of PRIs in rural health delivery system.


• Draw lessons from experience of Kerala, the State which has transferred its public health institutions to local government institutions well in advance for the consideration of other Indian states.


• Prepare “best practices” of PRIs in public health services in Kerala for the dissemination among various Indian States.