Kerala’s much-awaited desire that has bee sought after for several years to have an All India Institutes of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) similar institution in her territory was once again discarded following its absence in the Union Budget 2024-25 presented by the Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on 23 July.
This year, unlike previous years, there was heavy anticipation especially with two Kerala-based Union Ministers of State, and one being the BJP’s first ever elected MP from Kerala.
On July 22 too, John Brittas, MP had raised this subject of approving an AIIMS-like institution for Kerala at Rajya Sabha.
But then there were no major proposals for the country’s health sector in Union Budget besides exempting three more cancer drugs from customs duties.
The total outlay for health sector across the nation is ₹89,287 crore. The allocation under Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana is ₹7,500 crore and it has included accredited social health activists (ASHA), anganwadi workers and helpers as beneficiaries under the scheme.
AIIMS was establish as an autonomous institution in New Delhi under the Act of Parliament in 1956 and is today the apex medical institution in the country.
It wasn’t until after 2012 that Central Government began establishing AIIMS-like institutions across India under Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY), a scheme announced in 2003 with objectives of overcoming regional imbalances in delivery of affordable/reliable tertiary healthcare services and wellness facilities to achieve quality medical education within the country.
As far as development goes now there are twenty-two such institutions throughout India; some have become operational while others are at different stages of development.
Political and Emotional Issue
In recent years having an AIIMS-like institution has become not only political but also emotional issue for Keralites who believe that the Centre had deliberately denied them of their rights.
The issue acquired a very political colouring and was most debated topic across Kerala during the run up to 2024 Lok Sabha elections as well as post-election debates with many influential MPs quarreling over “unfulfilled promises.”
Although it seemed like Kerala government had settled on Kinalur in Kozhikode as the best place for AIIMS-like institution, Thiruvananthapuram, Palakkad and recently Kasaragod have all been competing for it.
Kerala health minister Veena George has informed State Assembly in June that Government of India had agreed with Kerala’s choice of Kinalur in Kozhikode to locate the proposed AIIMS-like institution but final approval was still pending.
