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MRD Officer Salary & Career in Kerala 2026
Medical Records Department officer — roles, responsibilities, salary by experience and hospital type, career growth path and how to become a certified MRD officer in Kerala hospitals.
What Is an MRD Officer in a Hospital?
The Medical Records Department (MRD) is the custodian of a hospital's patient information. Every patient interaction — OPD visit, admission, surgery, discharge — generates clinical documents that must be accurately maintained, coded and retrievable. The MRD officer manages this entire lifecycle.
Creating, updating and archiving IPD case sheets, OPD notes, consent forms, investigation reports and discharge summaries for every patient
Coding diagnoses using ICD-10 (International Classification of Diseases) for billing, statistical reporting, insurance claims and NABH audits
Providing records to treating doctors for follow-up, to insurance companies for claim processing, and to courts / legal authorities (medicolegal cases)
Generating disease index, operation index, daily admission reports and mortality reports for hospital administration and government reporting
Ensuring records management meets NABH accreditation criteria (ACC, COP, MOM standards) for the hospital's accreditation cycle
Linking patient records with ABHA (Ayushman Bharat Health Account) under the National Digital Health Mission — a growing responsibility in 2026
MRD Officer Salary in Kerala 2026
| Experience | Non-NABH Hospital | NABH / Corporate | Govt / Teaching |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fresher (0–1 yr) | ₹17,000–₹22,000 | ₹20,000–₹26,000 | Pay scale |
| 1–3 Years | ₹22,000–₹28,000 | ₹25,000–₹35,000 | Increment-based |
| 3–5 Years | ₹27,000–₹35,000 | ₹32,000–₹45,000 | Higher scale |
| MRD Manager (5+ yr) | ₹35,000–₹45,000 | ₹40,000–₹60,000 | Scale + allowances |
Source: Treneywann placement data, Naukri listings, Kerala hospital HR inputs — July 2026
Why MRD Is a Strong Career Choice in Kerala
Every NABH hospital must have a functional MRD department. Kerala's 120+ NABH hospitals all need trained MRD officers — this is not a discretionary hire, it's a compliance requirement.
Many hospital admin graduates focus on billing and front office. Fewer candidates specifically train for MRD — so certified MRD officers face less competition at the interview stage than billing executives.
MRD is a critical regulatory function. Hospitals cannot afford to keep this role vacant for long. Once established in MRD, job security is higher than front-facing roles that are easier to fill.
The National Digital Health Mission (ABDM/ABHA) is creating Health Information Manager roles that combine MRD expertise with digital health records. Early movers into this hybrid role command premium pay.
MRD Career Growth Path
Data entry, basic file management
ICD-10 coding, NABH audit prep, HMS MRD module
Team supervision, MIS reports, legal case management
Policy, NABH accreditation, ABDM integration
Digital health records, analytics, multi-hospital networks
Qualifications Required for MRD Officer in Kerala
- Plus Two (10+2) + medical records certificate
- Basic computer skills
- ICD-10 awareness
- Degree (any stream) + hospital admin diploma
- HMS software certification (MRD module)
- ICD-10 coding training
- NABH records management knowledge
- Degree (B.Sc/B.Com/BBA) + relevant certificate
- Kerala PSC written exam for permanent posts
- Contract basis: degree + certification suffices
Frequently Asked Questions
Become a Certified MRD Officer
MRD module · ICD-10 training · Hinall HMS MRD lab · NABH records standards · 5 certifications
6-Month Diploma ₹29,000 · 1-Year PG Diploma ₹49,000 · August 5, 2026 batch · Kochi