Demand for AIIMS in Kerala intensifies after land selection in Kozhikode

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.

Explaining the reason for opposing the decision, K. K. Subeesh, the counsel for the petitioners, stated that the proposed site in Kozhikode does not have the required land and essentials as outlined by the Union government. The petition highlights that Kasaragod, with a population of around 14 lakh, desperately needs a super-speciality hospital, especially considering the large number of endosulfan victims requiring specialized medical care. Eleven panchayats in the district have over 2,500 children with severe health issues due to endosulfan exposure. Decades of neglect have left Kasaragod with inadequate medical facilities, forcing residents to travel to Mangalore for tertiary care, reports The Daily.

The society also pointed out that a foundation for a medical college hospital was laid in Ukkinadka, Kasaragod, on November 30, 2013, but progress has stalled due to a lack of financial support. Following the COVID-19 outbreak, the academic block was converted into a COVID hospital, which still lacks ICU facilities and adequate manpower, leading to critical patients being referred to the Government Medical College in Pariyaram, Kannur.

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.