Dedicated Gender Surgery Unit Marks Milestone in Care

FOR YEARS, the path to gender-affirming surgery in Kerala has been fraught with insurmountable hurdles, including exorbitant costs and lack of specialized, accessible medical care.

- POOJA NAIR @Kozhikode

However, a new dawn is breaking for the transgender community and those who nurture dreams of transition.

In a historic move, the state government is establishing a dedicated Gender Reassignment Surgery (GRS) Unit at Kottayam Medical College Hospital (MCH). The pioneering initiative aims to offer a lifeline of hope, providing safe, affordable and compassionate care through the public healthcare system for the very first time in the state's history.

"This is not just a medical project, it's a social and ethical commitment," said R Bindu, Higher Education and Social Justice Minister. "For far too long, our transgender citizens have been marginalized and denied the fundamental right to quality healthcare. The trauma faced by those seeking to align their physical bodies with their gender identity is immense, and it is our duty to alleviate that suffering. The new unit will be a beacon of hope, providing a safe space where they can receive care with dignity, respect and without the fear of judgment. We are not just building a hospital unit, we are building a more inclusive and empathetic society," she said.