Demand for AIIMS in Kerala intensifies after land selection in Kozhikode
Kasargod: Amidst the constant demands for the prompt establishment of an All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Kasaragod, the Kerala government has finalized land at Kinaloor in Kozhikode district as the proposed AIIMS site without consulting or receiving approval from the Union government.
The land is owned by the Kerala State Industrial Development Corporation (KSIDC) and AIIMS Kasaragod Janakeeya Koottayma has pointed out that it is important to seek the approval of the central government before finalizing the land. The group also approached the Kerala High Court highlighting the flaws in the process. The group argued that Kasaragod is the most suitable, feasible, and essential location for AIIMS, emphasizing the region's urgent need for advanced medical infrastructure, reports The New Indian Express.
The Koottayma, an advocacy group promoting the establishment of AIIMS in Kerala's northernmost district, claims the decision was made without proper study or adherence to the principles of the Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY). In response to their petition, the Kerala High Court has directed the Union government to file a report.
In 2014, the Union government decided to establish AIIMS in all states under PMSSY and asked states to propose three or four alternative sites with approximately 200 acres each. Kerala's proposals included sites near the open jail in Nettukaltheri, Neyyattinkara, land belonging to the Government Medical College in Kottayam, property belonging to HMT in Ernakulam, and the Kinaloor site. However, the petitioner alleged that despite Kasaragod being the most deserving district, it was excluded. The petition also stated that the land in Kinaloor only has 154.43 acres available, making the selection illegal.
The Koottayma alleged that the state government's decision reflects political expedience rather than genuine concern for public health. The February 2023 issue of the International Journal of Science and Archive reported that Kasaragod's healthcare system lags behind other districts, with residents heavily dependent on Mangalore for medical services.
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