Kochi, February 25 – The Kerala High Court expressed dissatisfaction with the Centre's stance on establishing an AIIMS (All India Institute of Medical Sciences) in the state, reigniting a debate that resurfaces regularly and leads to renewed disappointment.
While hearing a petition on the matter, the court questioned the delay in making a decision and inquired whether the Union government had, in principle, decided to establish an AIIMS in Kerala.
The court had previously directed the Centre to conduct a feasibility study at the site proposed by the state.
When the Union government requested four weeks to respond, the bench declined, instead granting two weeks.
It also directed a representative from the Union Health Ministry to appear virtually and clarify the status of the feasibility study.
For Kerala, the promise of an AIIMS has become a recurring pre-budget ritual.
Each year, before the Union Budget, expectations build that this might finally be the year when the prestigious institution is announced.
However, these expectations are usually short-lived.
Union Minister and actor turned politician, Suresh Gopi, has repeatedly asserted that an AIIMS will come to Kerala, keeping hopes alive among supporters.
The state government, however, maintains that it has fulfilled all prerequisites, including identifying and offering land, and has accused the Centre of delaying the process.
The absence of an AIIMS in Kerala stands out, particularly when several other states have secured the premier healthcare and medical education institution in the past decade.
Health sector experts argue that an AIIMS would significantly boost tertiary care access and research capacity in the state.
With the High Court now seeking a clear timeline, the spotlight has once again turned to New Delhi.
For a state that prides itself on its healthcare indicators, the prolonged wait for an AIIMS has become as much a political talking point as a test of Centre-State coordination.