In Kerala, during the reign of King Thiru Kochi, there were Ayurvedic dispensaries for the treatment of poisons alone. According to the 1950-51 Administrative Report, there were specialized departments established for the treatment of poisons in the Ayurvedic hospitals at Thiruvananthapuram, Thrissur, and Tripunithura in Kerala. As the Thiruvalla Ayurveda Dispensary was in an area prone to poisoning, 4 beds (for monitoring and treating patients) were set up there for the treatment of poisoning in case of emergency. Apart from these, there were 7 taluk Vishavaidya hospitals built on following locations such as Panancherry, Anthikkad, Thalappilly, Mukundapuram, Ollur, Ayilur and Maradu in Kerala.

Among these, the Vishavaidya hospitals at Panancherry and Thalappilly are currently functioning as 4-bed toxicology hospitals at Madakathara and Vadakkancherry.

 It was one of the Taluk Vishavaidya Hospital functioning in Panancherry Panchayath in Thrissur District since 1950s. In the early days, the General OP and the Vishavaidya departments were functioning together in a rented building owned by a private individual. In August 1983, the institution has bifurcated in to two independent entities, The General OP Government Ayurveda Dispensary has started functioning in the Panchayat building and Visha Vaidya Hospital has begun operational from Vellanikkara, west of Madakkathara Panchayat. At the beginning the Visha Vaidya Hospital was functioning on a rented building and later moved to a land donated by Vadakkoottu Impandi Lakshmikutty teacher. The hospital is currently functioning with 4 beds in the new building inaugurated in 2005.

As the progress of modern medicine and the availability of antivenom has increased over time, the number of snakebite treatments in the Vishavaidya hospitals decreased significantly over time. Even though, these hospitals are still functioning as specialty hospitals, predominantly treating people with non-healing wounds after snake bites, other ailments such as venom of spiders, scorpions, locusts, and other small insects bits, as well as various skin diseases such as allergies and psoriasis etc.

There are 28 centers in Kerala for the poison treatment alone, among these 6 institutions are operational in Thrissur district.  During their golden days, these Visha Vaidya institutions were  the prime treatment centers for snake bite related issues. Many people are still relying on these “Visha Vaidya hospitals” for incurable skin deceases and allergic treatments.

To preserve the invaluable knowledge in Kerala tradition of poison treatment, it is much needed to set up a toxicology research center institute and bring all Visha Vaidya hospitals in Kerala under one Visha vaidya research center administration.