Little Flower Hospital and Research Centre is where private-sector eye care in Kerala began. In 1964, this hospital in Angamaly opened the state’s first eye department outside the government system. Under ophthalmologist Dr. Tony Fernandez, that department grew into one of the largest eye care centres in Kerala and set up the first private-sector eye bank in the state. The hospital itself is older still. The Archdiocese of Ernakulam started it in 1936 as a small health centre for what was then a village. Today it is a not-for-profit, multi-speciality hospital of around 800 beds on a 14-acre campus. It stands where the Main Central Road meets the national highway, about 25 km north of Kochi and only a short drive from Cochin International Airport.
| Quick Facts | Details |
| Full name | Little Flower Hospital & Research Centre (LF Hospital) |
| Address | P.B. No. 23, M.C. Road, Angamaly, Ernakulam District, Kerala 683572, India |
| Location | Junction of M.C. Road (Main Central Road) and the national highway, Angamaly |
| Established | 1936 |
| Management | Major Archdiocese of Ernakulam–Angamaly (Syro-Malabar Catholic Church) |
| Status | Not-for-profit registered charitable trust (Little Flower Hospital Trust) |
| Named after | St. Thérèse of Lisieux, known as “The Little Flower” |
| Campus | About 14 acres |
| Bed capacity | Around 800 beds (published figures range from about 700 to 950) |
| Daily outpatients | Around 1,600 on average |
| Eye department | Started 1964; the first private-sector eye department in Kerala |
| Eye bank | First private-sector eye bank in Kerala, founded by Dr. Tony Fernandez |
| Free eye programme | “Kazhchayilekku Oru Yathra” (A Journey to Sight) |
| Phone | 0484-2675000 |
| Nursing education | School of nursing opened in 2002, affiliated with the Kerala University of Health Sciences |
| Allied health institute | Little Flower Institute of Medical Sciences & Research (LIMSAR), started 5 September 2005 |
| Postgraduate training | Recognised by the National Board of Examinations (DNB) |
| Airport outlet | LF Hospital Medicals at Cochin International Airport, opened 1 November 2017 |
| Nearest railway station | Angamaly, around 1–2 km |
| Nearest airport | Cochin International Airport, Nedumbassery, roughly 8–10 km |
| Nearest city | Kochi, about 25 km south |
| Time zone | IST, UTC+5:30 (no daylight saving) |
| Official website | lfhospital.org |
An Eye Department That Changed a Hospital
Most hospitals are known for their heart or cancer programmes. Little Flower Hospital’s reputation was built mainly by its eye department.
When the department opened in 1964, patients in Kerala who needed eye surgery mostly depended on government medical colleges, which had long waiting lists. Dr. Tony Fernandez, the ophthalmologist behind the department, built it up over the following decades into a major centre for cataract surgery, corneal transplants, and specialised eye care. He also started the first private-sector eye bank in Kerala, which makes corneal transplants possible by collecting donated eyes. He later served as president of the All India Ophthalmological Society and was awarded the Padma Shri. His work is widely credited with turning the hospital from a small dispensary into a large institution.
The eye department is still one of the hospital’s main attractions. The hospital also runs a free eye-care outreach project called “Kazhchayilekku Oru Yathra” (A Journey to Sight) for people who cannot afford treatment.
From a Village Health Centre to a 14-Acre Campus
In 1936, Angamaly was a small village with almost no health facilities. The Archdiocese of Ernakulam opened a primary health centre there and named it after St. Thérèse of Lisieux, the French Carmelite nun popularly called “The Little Flower”. Religious sisters, doctors, and local staff built the institution up over the following decades.
Today, the hospital is run as a not-for-profit charitable trust under the Major Archdiocese of Ernakulam–Angamaly of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church. Its stated purpose is to provide quality medical care to everyone, especially the poor and underprivileged. Its campus now covers about 14 acres, with a large hospital complex, teaching facilities, and support buildings.
Location: Where M.C. Road Meets the Highway
Angamaly is one of central Kerala’s busiest road junctions. The M.C. Road, the historic Main Central Road running through Kerala’s interior towns, meets the national highway here. Little Flower Hospital sits right at this junction, which makes it easy to reach from several directions:
- From Kochi: About 25 km north. The drive usually takes 45 minutes to an hour, depending on traffic through Aluva and Kalamassery.
- From Thrissur: About 50 km south along the national highway.
- From Kalady, Perumbavoor, and Kothamangalam: Via the M.C. Road and connecting routes to the east.
- By train: Angamaly railway station, on the main line between Ernakulam and Thrissur, is only a short auto ride away.
- By air: Cochin International Airport at Nedumbassery is roughly 8–10 km away, closer than most of Kochi city.
This makes it one of the most accessible large hospitals in Kerala for patients flying in from other states or from abroad.
Departments
The hospital covers most medical and surgical specialities:
Eye care
- Ophthalmology, including cataract, cornea, retina, glaucoma, and paediatric eye care, plus the eye bank
Medical specialities
- General Medicine, Gastroenterology, Pulmonology, Haemato-Oncology, Dermatology, Psychiatry, and Critical Care
Surgical specialities
- General Surgery, Gastrointestinal Surgery, Urology, Plastic Surgery, ENT, Dental and Maxillofacial Surgery, and Orthopaedics
Women and children
- Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Paediatrics, and Neonatology
Support departments
- Anaesthesiology, Radiology and Imaging, Laboratory Medicine, and Physiotherapy
Check the hospital’s current doctor list before visiting. Senior consultants in the eye and super-speciality departments hold clinics on set days.
Eye Care Services at a Glance
Since eye care is the main reason many patients choose Little Flower Hospital, here is what the department typically covers:
- Cataract surgery, including modern small-incision and phaco techniques with lens implants
- Corneal transplants, supported by the hospital’s own eye bank
- Retina care, for diabetic eye disease, retinal detachment, and age-related problems
- Glaucoma screening and treatment
- Paediatric eye care and squint correction
- Refraction and spectacle services
- Eye donation. Families who want to donate a relative’s eyes after death can contact the eye bank
Why eye donation matters: A single donation can restore sight to up to two people through corneal transplants. The window for donation is short, usually within a few hours of death. If your family has decided to donate, keep the hospital’s number handy.
Other Services and Patient Support
- 24-hour emergency and critical care
- Operation theatres for general and speciality surgery
- Diagnostic laboratory and imaging
- Physiotherapy and rehabilitation
- Pharmacy on the hospital campus
- LF Hospital Medicals at Cochin International Airport, a medical shop and clinic opened in November 2017, useful for travellers who need medicines or basic care at the airport
- Free eye-care outreach through “Kazhchayilekku Oru Yathra”
- Charitable support for patients who cannot afford treatment, in line with the trust’s mission. Ask the hospital office about options.
Training and Research
Little Flower Hospital has a strong teaching side:
- School of Nursing, opened in 2002 and affiliated with the Kerala University of Health Sciences
- Little Flower Institute of Medical Sciences & Research (LIMSAR), started on 5 September 2005 for allied health and paramedical courses
- DNB postgraduate training, recognised by the National Board of Examinations in New Delhi
- Research activities, particularly in ophthalmology, where the hospital has decades of clinical experience
These programmes supply nurses, technicians, and specialists to hospitals in Kerala and abroad. Many Kerala-trained nurses work in the Gulf, the UK, and elsewhere.
A Practical Choice for Patients Flying In
Kerala has a very large overseas population, especially in the Gulf. Many families travel home specifically for surgery or treatment, and Little Flower Hospital’s location makes this easier:
- Book before you fly. Call 0484-2675000 to confirm the consultant’s schedule, especially for eye surgery.
- Bring all previous reports, including scans and prescriptions from abroad, translated if needed.
- Plan recovery time. Cataract surgery often needs follow-up visits over a few weeks, so don’t book your return flight too early. Ask your surgeon about safe flying after surgery.
- Stay nearby. Angamaly and Nedumbassery have many hotels and lodges close to both the hospital and the airport.
- Use the airport medical shop for last-minute medicines before an international flight.
- Check insurance. Kerala’s MEDISEP scheme for state employees and pensioners, and private insurers, may cover treatment. Confirm with the hospital’s insurance desk.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. What is the address of Little Flower Hospital Angamaly?
P.B. No. 23, M.C. Road, Angamaly, Ernakulam District, Kerala 683572.
Q2. What is the phone number of Little Flower Hospital?
Call 0484-2675000.
Q3. When was Little Flower Hospital established?
It opened in 1936.
Q4. Who runs Little Flower Hospital?
It is run as a not-for-profit charitable trust under the Major Archdiocese of Ernakulam–Angamaly.
Q5. Why is it called Little Flower Hospital?
It is named after St. Thérèse of Lisieux, who is popularly known as “The Little Flower”.
Q6. Is Little Flower Hospital known for eye treatment?
Yes. Its eye department, started in 1964, was the first in Kerala’s private sector and is one of the largest in the state.
Q7. Does Little Flower Hospital have an eye bank?
Yes. It runs the first private-sector eye bank in Kerala.
Q8. How far is Little Flower Hospital from Cochin Airport?
It is roughly 8–10 km away, a short drive.
Q9. How many beds does Little Flower Hospital have?
It has around 800 beds, with published figures ranging from about 700 to 950.
Q10. Does Little Flower Hospital offer nursing courses?
Yes. Its school of nursing, opened in 2002, is affiliated with the Kerala University of Health Sciences.
