Seven years after beginning its healthcare journey, Mar Sleeva Medicity Palai has grown into a 690-bed quaternary care hospital with 61 departments, more than 250 doctors, advanced diagnostic and treatment technology, specialised centres of excellence, postgraduate medical education and healthcare services extending beyond the main campus. The seventh anniversary on 11 September 2026 marked that growth through three major milestones: the inauguration of the new Gastro Sciences and Pulmonary Medicine facility, the declaration of Gastro Sciences as a Centre of Excellence, and the completion of 150 kidney transplant surgeries.

For Mar Sleeva Medicity Palai, Care@7 is therefore more than an anniversary. It is a point at which seven years of clinical development, infrastructure expansion, technology adoption, specialist expertise, medical education and community healthcare come together. What began as a new quaternary-care hospital in Central Kerala has developed into a multidisciplinary institution providing advanced care across oncology, transplantation, cardiac sciences, gastroenterology, neurosciences, orthopaedics, urology, pulmonary medicine, critical care, radiology and many other specialties.

The seventh anniversary programmes were inaugurated by K. Muraleedharan, Minister for Health, Government of Kerala, and presided over by Mar Joseph Kallarangatt, Bishop of Palai, Founder and Patron, in the presence of distinguished representatives from the political, social, cultural and religious spheres.

Seven years of expanding advanced healthcare

Mar Sleeva Medicity Palai was established with the objective of bringing comprehensive and advanced healthcare closer to patients in Central Kerala. Over seven years, that vision has translated into a growing clinical ecosystem that combines multispeciality care with super-speciality programmes, advanced diagnostics, complex procedures, critical care, transplantation, rehabilitation and long-term follow up.

The hospital's development has not been limited to increasing capacity. It has involved building departments and centres capable of managing increasingly complex conditions within the same healthcare system. This includes the development of major programmes in cancer care, renal sciences, gastroenterology and hepatobiliary surgery, cardiac intervention and electrophysiology, neurosciences, robotic orthopaedics, advanced urology, pulmonary medicine and critical care.

Today, patients can access a broad range of medical and surgical services at one quaternary-care campus, supported by 24-hour emergency and critical care services, advanced diagnostic infrastructure, multidisciplinary teams and specialist consultation across 61 departments.

A major cancer care and research ecosystem

One of the most significant developments in Mar Sleeva's recent growth has been the Mar Sleeva Cancer Care & Research Centre, which brings multiple oncology disciplines and advanced cancer technologies together as an integrated programme.

The centre includes Medical Oncology, Haemato Oncology, Surgical Oncology, Radiation Oncology, Nuclear Medicine, Paediatric Oncology, Stem Cell and Bone Marrow Transplantation, CAR-T Cell Therapy, Palliative Oncology, Psycho Oncology, Oncology Nutrition, Onco-Rehabilitation and cancer research, supported by disease-specific multidisciplinary cancer clinics.

Its diagnostic and treatment infrastructure includes Digital PET/CT, SPECT-CT and an Elekta Versa HD radiation therapy platform. The centre also has infrastructure for stem cell and bone marrow transplantation, apheresis and cryopreservation, supporting advanced haematological and cellular therapies.

Gastro Sciences becomes a Centre of Excellence

The seventh anniversary marked another major development with the declaration of Gastro Sciences as a Centre of Excellence and the inauguration of a new 30,000 sq. ft. Gastro Sciences and Pulmonary Medicine facility.

The Gastro Sciences programme has developed into a comprehensive service covering medical gastroenterology, hepatology, advanced endoscopy, gastrointestinal surgery, hepatobiliary and pancreatic surgery, interventional procedures and complex gastrointestinal cancer care.

Advanced endoscopic services include ERCP, endoscopic ultrasound, EUS-guided diagnostics, capsule endoscopy, therapeutic endoscopy, endoscopic management of gastrointestinal bleeding, stent placement, PEG placement, dilatation procedures and POEM.

The new Gastro Sciences and Pulmonary Medicine facility brings Medical Gastroenterology, Surgical Gastroenterology and Pulmonary Medicine together on a 30,000 sq. ft. floor. It includes dedicated facilities for ERCP, endoscopic ultrasound, manometry, bronchoscopy and EBUS, along with FibroScan, a sleep study centre and an allergy clinic.

Recent additions to Gastro Sciences also include a dedicated portable ultrasound, breath analyser and C-arm imaging system, strengthening diagnostic and interventional capability for digestive, abdominal and liver conditions.

150 kidney transplants and a growing Renal Sciences programme

The completion of 150 kidney transplant surgeries is another major milestone in Mar Sleeva Medicity Palai's seven-year journey. The achievement reflects the development of an established kidney transplant programme supported by Nephrology, Urology, Anaesthesia, Critical Care, Transfusion Medicine, nursing and transplant coordination teams.

The Centre of Excellence in Renal Sciences brings Nephrology and Urology together to provide integrated care for kidney and urinary tract conditions. The programme extends from chronic kidney disease and dialysis to kidney transplantation, stone treatment, minimally invasive urological procedures, uro-oncology and lifelong post-transplant follow up.

The transplant programme includes living-donor transplantation and complex pathways for appropriately selected patients, including ABO-incompatible transplantation, HLA-sensitised transplantation and donor-swap or paired-exchange transplantation. The programme also supports paediatric and geriatric transplant evaluation according to individual clinical needs.

With more than 150 successful kidney transplants, the programme has become an important part of Mar Sleeva's advanced care offering for patients in Central Kerala and surrounding districts.

Advanced cardiac care with OCT, electrophysiology and ECMO

Cardiac Sciences has developed into a comprehensive advanced-care programme at Mar Sleeva, covering clinical cardiology, interventional cardiology, electrophysiology, cardiac surgery, device therapy and cardiac critical care.

The Cath Lab provides coronary angiography and interventional procedures, while the addition of Abbott Ultreon 2.0 AI-powered Optical Coherence Tomography has strengthened intravascular imaging for complex coronary intervention. OCT provides high-resolution visualisation within the coronary artery to support assessment and optimisation of angioplasty and stent placement.

The electrophysiology programme provides EP studies and catheter-based treatment for selected rhythm disorders, along with device therapy including pacemaker, ICD and cardiac resynchronisation procedures where indicated.

In 2026, Mar Sleeva further expanded advanced cardiac and critical care with the development of an ECMO facility, adding extracorporeal life support capability for appropriately selected patients with severe cardiac or respiratory failure.

Robotic and advanced orthopaedic surgery

Technology-assisted orthopaedic surgery has become another major part of Mar Sleeva's development. The hospital introduced the VELYS Robotic-Assisted Solution for knee replacement in 2026, adding a new robotic platform to its established orthopaedic surgical capability.

In April 2026, the orthopaedic team completed 11 robotic-assisted knee replacement procedures in a single day using two VELYS robotic systems operating in parallel. The hospital's orthopaedic programme has also crossed more than 2,000 knee replacements overall.

The wider Orthopaedics and Joint Replacement programme includes primary and revision knee and hip replacement, shoulder and other joint procedures, arthroscopy, complex trauma, sports injuries, spine care and rehabilitation-supported recovery.

Advanced urology including Rezūm Water Vapor Therapy

The Centre of Excellence in Urology provides comprehensive care across endourology, laparoscopic urology, uro-oncology, reconstructive urology, neuro urology, paediatric and female urology, renal transplantation and andrology.

Mar Sleeva also provides Rezūm Water Vapor Therapy for appropriately selected men with benign prostatic hyperplasia. The minimally invasive treatment uses controlled water vapour delivered through the urethra to treat enlarged prostate tissue and improve urinary flow.

Other urological capabilities include laser and endoscopic treatment of urinary stones, laparoscopic procedures, prostate and bladder cancer surgery, reconstructive procedures and specialist services for male infertility and other andrological conditions.

Neurosciences and advanced brain and spine care

Mar Sleeva's Neurosciences programme combines Neurology, Neurosurgery and Spine Surgery with advanced imaging, critical care and supporting specialties. The service covers complex brain, spinal and peripheral nerve disorders, including brain and spinal tumours, vascular conditions, degenerative spine disease, spinal deformity, trauma and neurological emergencies.

Advanced neurosurgical care is supported by technologies and systems including neuro-navigation and intraoperative monitoring, while the wider neurological programme includes stroke care, epilepsy evaluation, neuroimmunology, movement disorders, neuromuscular medicine and other subspecialty services.

Advanced radiology and diagnostic imaging

Diagnosis across the hospital is supported by a dedicated Radiology and Imaging programme operating with advanced imaging infrastructure. Mar Sleeva's diagnostic capability includes a Philips Ingenuity 128-slice CT scanner, Philips Ingenia 3 Tesla MRI, digital mammography, digital X-ray, Bone Mineral Density assessment and advanced 3D and 4D ultrasound.

The 3 Tesla MRI platform supports advanced neuroimaging and specialist examinations, while CT, mammography, ultrasound and bone-density imaging support neurological, oncological, musculoskeletal, abdominal, pelvic, breast and vascular diagnosis.

These capabilities are complemented by Nuclear Medicine imaging, including PET/CT and SPECT/CT, providing functional and molecular information that is particularly important in oncology and selected other complex clinical pathways.

Critical care for complex and critically ill patients

Advanced clinical services require advanced critical care support. Mar Sleeva's Critical Care programme provides 24-hour care for patients with severe illness, respiratory failure, haemodynamic instability, acute kidney injury, multiple organ dysfunction and complex post-operative needs.

Critical care infrastructure includes advanced mechanical ventilation, continuous renal replacement therapy, high-flow oxygen support, isolation facilities and multidisciplinary intensive care. The addition of ECMO further expands the hospital's ability to support selected patients with severe cardiac and respiratory failure.

Medical education across 16 specialities

Mar Sleeva's growth has extended beyond patient care into postgraduate and post-doctoral medical education. The hospital is accredited by the National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS), an autonomous body under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, to conduct DNB, DrNB and FNB programmes across 16 specialities.

The academic portfolio includes DNB programmes in Anaesthesia, Emergency Medicine, Family Medicine, General Medicine, General Surgery, Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Orthopaedics, Paediatrics, Radio Diagnosis and Respiratory Medicine.

DrNB programmes include Cardiology, Gastroenterology, Nephrology, Neurology and Urology, while the FNB programme includes Arthroplasty.

This academic ecosystem is closely connected to the hospital's clinical development. Training takes place within a quaternary-care environment with transplantation, advanced cardiac intervention, gastroenterology, cancer care, neurosciences, critical care, robotic surgery and advanced diagnostic imaging.

Healthcare beyond the main campus

Mar Sleeva's seven-year development also includes expanding access outside the main hospital. Its network includes service and medical centres serving different parts of the local community, including Aruvithura, Pala and Melukavumattom, alongside the Cherpunkal service centre.

The Mar Sleeva Medical Centre at Aruvithura provides outpatient consultations in Family Medicine, Pulmonary Medicine, Rheumatology, Nephrology, Neurology, Cardiology, Dermatology and Endocrinology, supported by laboratory and pharmacy services.

The Assumption Medical Centre at Melukavumattom provides outpatient care across similar specialties together with laboratory and pharmacy services as part of Mar Sleeva's rural health mission. The Pala service centre provides laboratory sample collection, appointment booking and report services, while the Cherpunkal service centre supports blood sample collection, hospital service booking and helpdesk functions.

Home Care and healthcare beyond hospital walls

Healthcare at Mar Sleeva also extends into patients' homes. The Home Care programme provides hospital-supported medical and nursing services for patients recovering from illness or surgery, older adults, people living with chronic conditions and families requiring continuing support.

Home Care services include doctor visits, post-operative care, nursing support, wound care, injections, intravenous medication and fluids, ECG services, home sample collection, vaccination, elderly care, medication delivery and teleconsultation support.

This extends the continuity of care from hospital to home and supports patients who may find repeated travel to a healthcare facility difficult.

Preventive healthcare and health check programmes

Mar Sleeva's healthcare model also includes preventive and early-detection services. Health-check programmes are available for different age groups and risk profiles, covering areas such as whole-body health assessment, cardiac health, diabetes, women's health, paediatric health and senior health.

These programmes complement the hospital's specialist and tertiary-care services by providing a pathway for screening, risk assessment, early identification of disease and timely specialist referral.

61 departments, one connected care ecosystem

Mar Sleeva's growth over seven years is ultimately reflected in the range of clinical capabilities now available under one institution. The hospital's 61 departments bring together primary and specialist medicine, surgical disciplines, super-specialities, diagnostics, rehabilitation, critical care and supportive services.

Complex healthcare increasingly depends on collaboration between departments. Cancer patients may require medical oncology, surgical oncology, radiation oncology, nuclear medicine, pathology, radiology, nutrition and rehabilitation. Transplant recipients require nephrology, urology, anaesthesia, critical care, transfusion medicine, laboratory support and long-term follow up. Cardiac intervention may involve interventional cardiology, electrophysiology, cardiac surgery, anaesthesia and intensive care.

The growth of Mar Sleeva has therefore been about more than creating separate departments. It has been about building the clinical connections between them so that patients with complex conditions can move through diagnosis, treatment, surgery, critical care and follow up within an integrated healthcare environment.

Quality, safety and responsible healthcare growth

Clinical expansion has been accompanied by an ongoing focus on quality, safety and institutional standards. Mar Sleeva Medicity Palai is NABH accredited, is an institutional member of the International Society for Quality in Health Care, and has continued to pursue department-level quality and safety initiatives.

The hospital has also received recognition for areas including sterile services, environmental management and energy conservation, while Green OT certification has provided an independent assessment of the operating-theatre environment and practices supporting surgical safety, infection prevention and quality.

These initiatives form part of the systems required to support a large quaternary-care hospital, where quality is dependent not only on clinical expertise and technology but also on infection control, equipment management, standardised processes, staff training and continuous measurement.

The three milestones of Care@7

The three developments presented during the seventh anniversary represent different dimensions of Mar Sleeva's seven-year evolution.

The inauguration of the new Gastro Sciences and Pulmonary Medicine facility represents infrastructure expansion and the consolidation of advanced digestive and respiratory care. The declaration of Gastro Sciences as a Centre of Excellence represents the depth of expertise and specialised services now available within the programme. The completion of 150 kidney transplants represents the maturity of a complex clinical service developed over the hospital's journey.

Together, the milestones show how Mar Sleeva's development has moved from establishing services to building specialised centres with the infrastructure, expertise, technology and multidisciplinary teams required for increasingly complex care.

Seven years on and the next chapter

Seven years is a milestone, but it is also a measure of what has been built. Mar Sleeva Medicity Palai has grown from a new hospital in Central Kerala into a 690-bed quaternary-care institution with 61 departments, more than 250 doctors, advanced diagnostics, specialised centres, transplantation, complex cardiac care, advanced oncology, robotic surgery, postgraduate medical education and healthcare services extending into the community and patients' homes.

The seventh anniversary therefore marks a point of transition rather than an endpoint. The hospital's continuing expansion in specialised medicine, advanced technology, medical education, research and accessible healthcare points towards a model of care in which increasingly complex diagnosis and treatment can be delivered closer to the communities of Central Kerala.

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