The central government has denied that it has promised to set up an AIIMS (All India Institute of Medical Sciences) in Kerala, the country’s most lucrative medical market.
Asked whether the Government in 2015 had promised to set up an All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in the State of Kerala, union minister for health and family welfare JP Nadda said: “No. AIIMS for the state of Kerala has not been announced.”
The statement is in stark contrast to the assurance given by both BJP politicians in Kerala as well as the Left Front-led state government.
Last year, film-star -turned-BJP-politician Suresh Gopi had assured the state that Nadda had assured him that an AIIMS has been slated for the state.
“The Union government has no intention to deny it. In fact, Union Health Minister has assured this,” he said.
His statement came in the context of a similar ‘promise’ from the center in 2013 ‘lapsing’ because of lack of cooperation from the Congress-led state government.
Interestingly, there were reports that an AIIMS has been sanctioned in Kerala in the Union Budget presented earlier this year, and the state government too has been actively working on providing the required infrastructure.
AIIMS are high-level government-funded hospitals, and function as referral centers for advanced cases requiring special treatment.
The first such institute was established in Delhi in 1956. Another six were established in various North Indian cities in 2012. Another 14 proposals have been approved in 2014, none of which are located in Kerala.