The Primary Health Centre is the first rural facility with a Medical Officer; the CHC adds 30 beds and four specialists.
In Palakkad, 49.7% of women are anaemic, better than the typical district. 29.7% of children under five are stunted, close to the typical district. 12.8% of women have low BMI, better than the typical district. The PHC and CHC are the first point of clinical care against all three.
74% of registered enterprises are in services while 26% are in manufacturing. Only 5% of employment is in small and medium enterprises. 91% of school-age children are enrolled in higher secondary school (classes 9–12).
In Palakkad, which ranks 13 of 15 in Kerala for youth opportunity, the overall opportunity score is 53.7 out of 100. It runs ahead of the national picture on households in the poorest wealth group at 2.5%.