Kerala awaits AIIMS inclusion in central budget amid rising infectious disease concerns

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Keralites are eager to see if the union government will grant permission to establish the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in the state, where serious diseases such as rare and incurable infectious diseases are spreading. Diseases such as rare encephalitis, West Nile fever, Nipah and cholera, which were thought to have been eradicated, are rampant. Dengue fever, yellow fever, rat fever, H1N1, chicken pox, hepatitis, malaria, monkey fever and waterborne diseases are also spreading widely. It was here that the country first reported cases of COVID and Nipah. AIIMS is essential for study, research and prevention of diseases.

If AIIMS becomes a reality, there will be high-quality treatment and research. There will be a study of the conditions that lead to the spread of infectious diseases, including extreme heat, heavy summer rains and blockage of garbage disposal. Effective countermeasures can be devised. Patients rely on central doctors, especially those at AIIMS, for the treatment of rare diseases.

AIIMS, which was promised to Kerala in 2014, was later forgotten by the Centre. 252 acres of land have been acquired in Kinalur, Kozhikode. As the demand for AIIMS increased in Thiruvananthapuram, Kasaragod, Kozhikode, Ernakulam and Palakkad, the central government postponed the decision by suggesting a consensus. The Union Health Ministry had recommended to the Finance Ministry in April 2022 to grant AIIMS to Kerala, but no further action was taken. The central position change in 2018 that AIIMS is not under consideration continues.

To move forward, a nodal officer should be appointed to oversee AIIMS procurement activities and MPs should raise the issue unanimously in Parliament. State coordination is necessary to identify a suitable location for AIIMS.

Key features of AIIMS proposal

Expert treatment provided for free

World-class research facilities

Eminent doctors on staff

Training programs for other doctors

Brain biobanks

Hospital with 750 beds

20 superspecialty departments

Up to 200 MBBS seats

Estimated cost of ₹2000 crore, including construction