Kasaragod to figure in new AIIMS proposal, MP tells collective

The AIIMS Kasaragod People’s Collective on Saturday said the State government has assured that Kasaragod will be included in a fresh proposal to the Union government for establishing an All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Kerala.

The collective’s president Ganesan Aramanganam welcomed the State government;s assurance, saying the collective’s protests and legal steps following the COVID-19 pandemic exposed the limitations of Kasaragod’s healthcare infrastructure, arguing that the district required comprehensive medical facilities to achieve healthcare self-sufficiency.

He said the organisation had approached the Kerala High Court seeking directions against the delay in establishing an AIIMS in Kerala and requesting that Kasaragod be included in the list of proposed locations. Hearing the petition, a Division Bench headed by the Chief Justice observed that the demand for an AIIMS in Kerala could not be treated lightly. The Bench directed the Union Ministry of Health to clarify its stand and conduct a scientific feasibility study at the sites proposed by the State government, he said.

The collective said the High Court’s intervention provides a strong legal backing to Kasaragod’s demand for institution. Its general secretary Muralidharan Padannakkad said the assurance from the State government came during a meeting between Rajmohan Unnithan,MP, and Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan. The MP later informed the collective that Kasaragod would be included in the revised AIIMS proposal.

He said that Health Minister K. Muraleedharan has assured special consideration for Kasaragod following the intervention of Uduma MLA K. Neelakandan. Furthermore, he confirmed that the name of the district will be included in the new list to be submitted to the Centre.

The collective has urged all the political parties to set aside differences and work together to secure the premier medical institution for the district. It also called on public representatives and political parties to exert strong pressure on the Union government to ensure that the AIIMS sanctioned for Kerala is established in Kasaragod.