About Ashtamudi Hospital

Genesis

Ashtamudi Hospital and Trauma Care Centre emerged under the aegis of the Kerala Academy of Health Sciences and Research Pvt. Ltd., shaped by the vision and commitment of its founder directors. At the forefront was Dr. Jacob John, MS, M.Ch., who assumed the roles of Managing Director and Chairman. Alongside him stood Dr. Sumithran G., MS, M.Ch.; Capt. Dr. Jyothi Nayar, DNB; Major Dr. N. Suresh, MS; Dr. T. A. Shaji, D.A.; Dr. Raji Chandran, D.Ortho.; and Dr. Salim C. Eapen, MD—each contributing skill, dedication, and shared purpose to the institution’s birth.

In 2008, Ashtamudi Hospital & Trauma Care Centre took form from the collective conscience of young doctors who believed that health care must remain humane, accessible, and socially accountable. Kollam (Quilon) was chosen as the setting for this thoughtful social endeavour. These specialists and superspecialists, trained in Government Medical Colleges across Kerala during the eighties and nineties, had witnessed a growing divide between modern medicine and the people it was meant to serve. Escalating costs and the expanding dominance of corporate health care compelled them to seek an alternative path.

Through reflection, dialogue, and shared resolve, a vision took shape. They recognized that adherence to Standard Treatment Protocols, rational use of medicines, and the judicious application of appropriate technology could reduce costs without diminishing quality. Simultaneously, the region’s glaring inadequacy in accident and emergency care called for urgent redressal. Trauma care, therefore, emerged as a central focus alongside essential medical specialties. From this convergence of intent and conviction, Ashtamudi Hospital & Trauma Care Centre was born.

More About

Ashtamudi Hospital & Trauma Care Centre stands as a collective social initiative, founded by fifty doctors drawn from various Government Medical Colleges, with a majority hailing from Medical College, Alappuzha. Functioning under the Kerala Academy of Health Sciences & Research Pvt. Ltd., the institution is committed to delivering quality health care at an affordable cost while fostering a socially responsible model of medicine. Through strict adherence to Standard Treatment Protocols and a Rational Drug Formulary, the hospital consciously works to ease the financial burden on patients.

The hospital commenced operations on 01/11/2008 and was formally inaugurated on 28/12/2008 by Shri. P. K. Gurudasan, then Minister for Labour, Government of Kerala. Dr. R. K. Shenoy, former Professor of Medicine, Medical College, Alappuzha, presided as Guest of Honour.

Designed and constructed by COSTFORD, the hospital building reflects an environmentally conscious philosophy, employing alternative construction technologies. Eco-friendly waste management practices are integral to its functioning, supported by biogas plants and a water treatment facility executed by ESAF, Thrissur.

With effect from 01/10/2018, the hospital’s management was entrusted to Swanthanam Hospital Cooperative Society Ltd.

The Administration

The institution is administered by the Board of Directors of the Swanthanam Hospital Cooperative Society, under the chairmanship of Shri. G. S. Jayalal, MLA.

Thrust Area

Trauma Care remains the hospital’s principal focus, with the aim of developing a high-quality Accident Care Centre and a dependable Emergency Medical Service (EMS).

Trauma—whether accidental or intentional—has emerged as a major public health concern, often described as the silent epidemic of the modern age. Each day, nearly 16,000 people worldwide lose their lives to injuries, while countless others survive with lasting disabilities. Injuries contribute to 16% of the global burden of disease, with almost 90% of this burden falling upon low- and middle-income nations. Adolescents and young adults are disproportionately affected, resulting in the loss of productive years unmatched by any other disease.

The societal cost, both direct in health-care expenditure and indirect in lost productivity, is immense. The personal toll—measured in pain, suffering, disability, disfigurement, and loss of self-esteem—remains incalculable. These realities have intensified global efforts toward trauma prevention and management, leading to the development of dedicated trauma care centres.

Trauma is as ancient as humanity itself. Temptation began in Eden, and with it, injury. Cain’s killing of Abel stands among the earliest recorded acts of trauma. The Edwin Smith Surgical Papyrus, attributed to Imhotep, is the oldest known surgical text, with most of its cases devoted to traumatic injuries. Homer’s Iliad offers the first accounts of organized battlefield care, immortalizing Achilles tending to Patroclus. The Romans institutionalized care for the wounded, while Baron Larrey, chief surgeon to Napoleon, revolutionized trauma care through the flying ambulance and early frontline surgery. Ambroise Paré later defined trauma as the science of wounds and their causes.

In contemporary Kerala, road traffic accidents remain the leading cause of trauma. On average, eleven lives are lost each day, with exponentially higher numbers sustaining injuries. Prevention remains the cornerstone—through improved road safety, strict enforcement of traffic laws, public education, and ethical conduct on roads. The injury pattern in this region is distinct; most accidents are low-velocity and therefore potentially salvageable. Timely intervention during the Golden Hour—addressing airway, breathing, and circulation—can significantly improve outcomes.

This highlights the critical need for efficient pre-hospital care systems, accessible emergency services, and well-equipped accident treatment units. Equally important is comprehensive rehabilitation, an area where notable gaps persist within the state. The WHO’s Essential Trauma Care Guidelines emphasize the organization of effective trauma services even in resource-limited settings.

Guided by science, compassion, and social responsibility, Ashtamudi Hospital & Trauma Care Centre remains steadfast in addressing these challenges—for the lasting benefit of society.