Kerala government open to AIIMS in any district, vows to address healthcare gaps: Minister K Muraleedharan

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Kerala Health Minister K Muraleedharan stated on Monday that the state government’s primary objective is to secure an All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) for Kerala, regardless of which district it is established in.

Speaking at the 'Meet the Press' event at the Thiruvananthapuram Press Club, the Minister emphasised that the state is ready to facilitate the project at any location proposed by the Union Government.

"The AIIMS project can be established anywhere the Central Government suggests, including the land previously allocated to the railways in Palakkad," Minister Muraleedharan said.

He noted that he had raised the issue in Parliament during his tenure as an MP, criticising the previous state government’s rigid stance on constructing the institute solely on a site identified in Balussery. Commenting on current developments, he added that even the Thrissur MP has proposed a location outside his own constituency, a move to which the state government has no objection.

Probe into COVID-19 procurement and graft

The Minister announced a comprehensive investigation into all past allegations of corruption within the Health Department. He explicitly noted that alleged irregularities in the procurement of medical equipment by the Medical Services Corporation during the COVID-19 pandemic would be thoroughly reviewed. He assured, however, that the investigation would be impartial and not driven by personal or political prejudice.

Criticising the previous administration's execution of infrastructure projects under the Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board (KIIFB), Muraleedharan stated that the initiatives merely focused on constructing buildings without ensuring adequate medical staff or facilities. To resolve this, the government plans to fast-track the appointment of doctors and healthcare staff across all state-run hospitals to address acute shortages.

Medical College expansions and land swaps

The government will revive and establish the Thiruvananthapuram and Haripad Medical Colleges, which were initially announced by the United Democratic Front (UDF) administration.

Addressing the status of the Wayanad Medical College, Muraleedharan clarified that 50 acres of land donated by the late MP Veerendra Kumar was initially selected and a foundation stone laid. However, following a change in government, the project was shifted to the Mananthavady District Hospital due to flood risks at the original site.

The Health Department has requested 20 acres of land from the Forest Department for the Mananthavady facility and will provide compensatory land in return. Additionally, necessary documentation will be submitted to the Centre to recover lost funds for the Parippally Medical College.

Strict stance on medical negligence

The Health Ministry will no longer blindly accept internal departmental reports regarding medical negligence, Muraleedharan warned.

Citing a recent incident at the Kozhenchery District Hospital where a needle broke and became lodged in a patient during an injection, the Minister rejected the preliminary inquiry report, stating it attempted to whitewash the hospital staff. A fresh probe has been ordered to locate the personnel involved and record their statements. The Minister added that the government is open to re-investigating older medical negligence cases if requested by the affected parties.

Administrative and hospital reforms

Acknowledging that he is not a medical doctor, the Minister announced that he has appointed a medical professional as his Private Secretary to navigate complex technical matters within healthcare administration.

In a bid to improve patient care and facility management, the Minister announced the following operational changes:

• Visiting Hours: Patient visiting hours at all government Medical Colleges have been standardised from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM daily.
• Bed Management: Steps will be taken to ensure no patient is forced to sleep on hospital floors. Facilities will maximise bed capacity and strictly enforce cleanliness.
• Sanitation Drive: A statewide hospital cleaning campaign is scheduled to launch on May 30th.
• Referral Streamlining: New protocols will be introduced to prevent unnecessary patient referrals to apex Medical Colleges, easing the burden on tertiary care centres.