The Rural Medical Service started in 1983, when the Sri Ramakrishna Ashrama Charitable Hospital, Sasthamangalam started organizing a Mobile Unit and commenced serving two villages. In 1986, a new project called the Sri Ramakrishna Rural Health Service Project was started under the Private Voluntary Organisation Health (PVOH) Scheme of the Government of India which provided a substantial grant for a specific period. The Scheme envisaged the setting up of Mini Health Centres (MHC) at village level, a referral Rural Health Centre (RHC) and a Base Hospital. This project was carried out in five villages. The period of the Central Government grant expired in 1990. Thereafter, the Ashrama took the onus of running these MHCs on itself. At present there are six MHCs at the following villages:

1. Nettayam
2. Poovachal
3. Vavode
4. Keezharoor
5. Oonampara
6. Cheriakonni

 Nettayam centre works as both MHC and RHC, with the hospital at Sasthamangalam as Base Hospital. A mobile unit with a doctor, a nurse and paramedical staff visit the above centres.

Major activities of the centres are:

• Treatment of about 12,000 patients annually. Serious cases are referred to the Base Hospital
• Provision of free medicines to the poor patients. Grant of financial help for higher treatment
• Pecuniary help to poor for provisions, clothing, thatching roof, etc. Also, help both in kind and cash are given during festivals such as Onam Photo album