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Kerala Thalolam Scheme : Free Treatment Assistance For Children With Critical Illnesses

Komal Bajpai

Author

Updated: 20-01-2026 at 3:30 PM

The Kerala Social Security Mission is the Thalolam Scheme, which is a health welfare program under Kerala Social Security Mission that provides free medical services to children residing in economically weak families with severe and chronic illnesses. This initiative is an indication of how the state government takes the issue of enhancing access to healthcare among the vulnerable children, as well as alleviating the financial burden that occurs due to expensive treatments.

In this article, you will get the detailed information about the Tholam Scheme, its eligibility, financial criteria, documents required, application process and much more.

Overview

The table below highlights the key insights of the scheme:-

Parameter	Details
Scheme Name	Thalolam Scheme Kerala
Launched By	Government of Kerala
Implementing Department	Health & Family Welfare Department, Government of Kerala
Objective	To provide free medical treatment to children suffering from critical and chronic illnesses
Target Beneficiaries	Children below 18 years from economically weaker families
Type of Assistance	Free treatment, medicines, surgeries, and diagnostic services
Diseases Covered	Critical, chronic, congenital, and life-threatening illnesses
Income Criteria	Primarily for BPL families and financially vulnerable households
Hospitals Covered	Government hospitals and empanelled private hospitals in Kerala
Mode of Benefit	Cashless treatment through government funding
Application Mode	Offline through hospitals / local health authorities
State Coverage	Kerala
Key Focus	Child healthcare, early intervention, and financial relief to families

What Is The Thalolam Scheme?

The Thalolam Scheme is a Kerala government health support programme which was initiated on 1 January 2010 by the Kerala Social Security Mission (KSSM). It offers free medical services and financial support to children below 18 years in case they have critical and chronic illnesses and are born in families that are not able to afford costly medical services.

The scheme provides treatment cover on a broad spectrum of severe cases that would otherwise take a long period of care, operation or specialised therapy. It subsidizes life threatening and disabling diseases, and hence, children who would otherwise be exposed to a lack of timely care can have quality treatment.

The Thalolam yojana benefits extend beyond healthcare by offering dignity, security, and hope to families struggling with medical expenses.

Also Read: Kerala Educational Assistance To Children Of Prisoners Complete Guide

What Are The Diseases Covered Under The Thalolam Scheme?

The Thalolam Scheme assists the treatment of a list of severe and chronic conditions. These are, but not restricted to:

Chronic Kidney Diseases.
Cardiovascular Diseases.
Cerebral Palsy.
Brittle Bone Disease (Osteogenesis Imperfecta).
Blood Disorders and Haemophilia.
Thalassemia and Sickle Cell Anaemia.
Orthopaedic Deformities.
Neuro-Developmental Disabilities.
Congenital Anomalies.
Accident-related Surgeries.

Children affected by these conditions often require continuous medical supervision and costly interventions. Through the Thalolam yojana benefits, the scheme significantly reduces the financial stress associated with such treatments.

What Is The Eligibility Criteria Of The Thalolam Scheme?

To enjoy the benefits of the Thalolam Scheme, the applicant must fulfil the following conditions:-

The child should be below 18 years of age.
The child is supposed to be a resident of Kerala.
The child must be a Below Poverty Line (BPL) family or that of the family which cannot afford the treatment expenses.

The Thalolam scheme eligibility is determined through economic and social assessment. Only families with genuine financial need receive approval, ensuring fair and targeted distribution of benefits.

How Much Financial Assistance Is Provided?

Under the Thalolam Scheme, the applicants will get:

First-time financial assistance of 50,000 is given to needy kids to acquire medical care.
Further financial aid can be provided, in several instances, on medical necessity and at the discretion of medical superintendents or heads of departments at empanelled hospitals.
The assistance is specifically aimed at meeting part of the medical costs incurred in the treatment, including diagnosis, tests and surgery.

Also Read: Kerala Introduces Seaplane Services To Boost Tourism And Connectivity.

Thalolam Project Expansion And Funding.

Thalolam has been promoted over the years with increased funding to reach out to more people:

In 2021, the Kerala Finance Department allocated the scheme ₹5.29 crore to cover a larger number of children who need treatment around the state.
Hundreds of thousands of children have benefited from the scheme through this funding boost, with the scheme being expanded to cover many speciality hospitals across Kerala.
This additional funding has helped the government to assist more beneficiaries and address more complicated medical requirements than ever.

Where Can You Get Treatment Under Thalolam?

The Thalolam Scheme covers some of the facilities that provide free treatment, and they include:

Hospitals in Thiruvananthapuram, Thrissur, Alappuzha, Kottayam, and Kozhikode. Thiruvananthapuram, Thrissur, Alappuzha, Kottayam, and Kozhikode Government Medical College Hospitals.
S. A. T Hospital, Trivandrum
Cooperative Medical College, Kannur.
Thiruvananthapuram, Regional Cancer Centre.
Chosen district and taluk hospitals.

Such hospitals have the facilities and specialised units that can diagnose and cure a wide range of severe diseases that are under the scheme.

How To Apply For The Thalolam Scheme?

A simplified overview of the usual procedure to gain the benefits of the Thalolam Scheme would be provided below. This procedure can vary in minor ways that depend on the hospital or district office that deals with the application:

Step 1: Walk to the hospital where your child is being treated.

Step 2: The majority of the empanelled hospitals have appointed counsellors, who assist with Thalolam applications.

Step 3: Present personal, medical, and financial documentation that the counsellor requires in order to examine them.

Step 4: There are circumstances under which the district social justice or welfare officer reviews the application and eligibility.

Step 5: With approval, they provide financial support and treatment advice according to the scheme.

Although Thalolam yojana online services are limited, hospitals play a crucial role in guiding families through the offline application process.

List Of Documents Required For The Thalolam Scheme

To apply under the Thalolam Scheme, the following are some of the documents required:

Identity evidence (Aadhaar Card).
Evidence of age/medical certificates of the child.
BPL card or income certificate.
Residence certificate.
Ration card (if available).
A photograph of the child,d the size of a passport.
Elaborated medical history and diagnosis.

It is also important to make sure that all documents are correct and complete to facilitate the process of assessment and approval of eligibility.

Also Read: Biometric Verification for LPG Cylinders in Kerala: What You Need to Know!

Real-Life Impact: Children Benefitting Across Kerala

Through sustained investment and execution, Thalolam has really changed the lives of thousands of children and families:

The scheme has improved funding and access to treatment for more than 16,000 children.
There has been a decrease in financial obstacles to treatment of such conditions as renal illnesses, cardiovascular difficulties, and developmental disabilities.
These figures on the ground underscore the relevance of long-term investment and commitment of the government in ensuring accessibility of healthcare to vulnerable groups.

What Are The Difficulties And Prospects Of The Scheme?

Although the Thalolam Scheme has been of benefit to a lot of families, it has had its share of challenges:

In some hospitals, administrative processes are reported to be slow, or the beneficiaries do not get access to full benefits.
In some rural and economically backward regions, awareness of the scheme is still low.

To make the scheme even more effective, it is important to work on making the coordination within the hospitals smoother, raising the awareness of the population, and making the process of eligibility assessment fast and transparent.

Conclusion

The Thalolam Scheme stands as one of Kerala’s most impactful child health welfare initiatives. By providing free medical services and financial assistance to children with serious illnesses, it reduces healthcare inequality and ensures timely treatment for those who need it most.

Through clearly defined Thalolam scheme eligibility, flexible Thalolam scheme amount, and wide-ranging Thalolam yojana benefits, the programme continues to safeguard the health and future of thousands of children across the state.

If your child or someone you know qualifies for the scheme, visit an empanelled hospital and consult the scheme counsellor immediately, because timely healthcare can save lives.

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