Kerala to have hub-and-spoke model diagnostic labs network

The health department brings together and connects all government laboratories in Kerala into a single diagnostic network, Nirnaya; This network will function as a hub and spoke model for the delivery of comprehensive diagnostic services at the grassroots level.

Nirnaya diagnostic services network was inaugurated by Health Minister Veena George on Thursday.

From Kasaragod to Thiruvananthapuram, facilities in government laboratories and the services provided by these laboratories have been upgraded and connected through a hub-and-spoke model. This will allow citizens to access diagnostic tests for free or at affordable prices from the nearest laboratory in their area.

Ms. George described Nirnaya as a revolutionary step in the history of diagnostic healthcare in Kerala.

seven categories

Laboratory services are categorized under seven areas: basic laboratory testing, advanced laboratory testing, AMR (antimicrobial resistance) surveillance, metabolic screening, TB and cancer screening, outbreak investigation, and infectious disease diagnosis and monitoring.

Ms. George claimed that through the Nirnaya network, all these laboratory services will now be provided at the Family Health Centers level, making Kerala the first State in the country to implement such a comprehensive network of diagnostic services.

Currently, around 1,300 laboratories under the Health department are part of the Nirnaya project. These include over 200 ‘central’ laboratories and approximately 1,100 ‘talking’ laboratories in various regions.

Test results are available through the State government’s eHealth portal, via SMS and via the meHealth mobile app. The health department is joining hands with India Post service in implementing this project.

Even advanced tests can now be performed at the level of Family Health Centers and Primary Health Centers without the need for patients to travel to remote central laboratories. Thus, patients can benefit from high-quality diagnostic services at minimal cost, while ensuring compliance with quality standards.

The results are instantly delivered to the health centers where the samples were taken and simultaneously sent as SMS alerts via verified registered mobile phone numbers.

The system reduces patients’ out-of-pocket expenses by ensuring timely treatment based on accurate diagnostic results. Ms. George said Nirnaya is a very important milestone in achieving comprehensive health coverage envisaged under Nava Kerala Mission and Aardram Mission.