Is Keralam’s comparatively better healthcare facilities a ‘handicap’ in establishing an All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in the state, the Kerala high court asked the Union government on Wednesday.
The high court asked the question after deputy solicitor general OM Shalina submitted that the Union government was prioritising states with weaker healthcare infrastructure in allotting AIIMS under PMSSY. Shalina stated that Keralam had comparatively better healthcare facilities. The high court stated that the large presence of private hospitals in the state cannot also be a point of disqualification in getting an AIIMS.
It said that the proposal was first put before the Union government in 2016 and that the State government had even identified locations to set up the multi-speciality hospital. The court critiqued the Union government for not taking a decision on a matter that’s over a decade old.
“We expect the Union government to take a conscious decision considering the needs of the state and having regard to the fact that the proposal of establishment of AIIMS was placed before the Central government and the matter is pending for 11 years,” the high court said.
