November 7, 2024

Demand for AIIMS in Kasaragod Gains Momentum Amid Controversy Over Site Selection

The need to open an All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Kasaragod has become increasingly pressing, particularly in light of the impending inauguration of a new government at the Institute. This movement is motivated by Kasaragod’s critical need for cutting-edge medical infrastructure—a place that has long been underserved by quality medical institutions. Concerns have been voiced regarding the state government’s plan to approve land in Kinaloor, Kozhikode district, for the proposed AIIMS location by the AIIMS Kasaragod Janakeeya Koottayma, a group that is actively supporting this cause. As per the Koottayma, this decision was taken without seeking permission from the Union government, without consulting them, and without following the guidelines of the Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY) program.

The Union government was recently ordered by the Kerala High Court to provide a report in answer to Koottayma’s appeal. K K Subeesh, the society’s legal representative, said that the Kozhikode location is not suitable for the establishment of an AIIMS because it does not have the land and other requirements set forth by the Union government. A large number of endosulfan victims in Kasaragod, which has a population of almost 14 lakh, and essential healthcare needs that call for specialist care are highlighted in the plea. The petition highlights the terrible condition of Kasaragod’s medical facilities, as locals are frequently forced to travel to Mangalore in order to receive tertiary care treatments. Decades of disregard by successive governments have resulted in this situation continuing.

At Ukkinadka, the groundwork for a medical college hospital in Kasaragod was laid in 2013. However, the project has been beset by budgetary restrictions and delays. The academic block of the projected hospital was turned into a Covid hospital during the Covid-19 outbreak, however it doesn’t have an ICU or enough doctors, thus critical cases are referred to the Government Medical College in Pariyaram, Kannur.

The Union government asked states to suggest three or four alternate locations, each roughly 200 acres in size, as part of its 2014 decision to create AIIMS in every state under the PMSSY scheme. In response, the state government of Kerala suggested four locations: the land in Kinaloor; the Government Medical College’s land in Kottayam; HMT’s property in Ernakulam; and the area close to the open jail in Nettukaltheri, Neyyattinkara. The petitioner argues that Kasaragod was left out of this proposal even though it is the most eligible district. The petitioner claims that the land selection at Kinaloor was unlawful because there are only 154.43 acres available there, not the 200 acres that are needed.

The Koottayma contends that the state government committed a grave injustice when it chose Kinaloor over Kasaragod, claiming that political expediency rather than a sincere concern for public health drove the decision. The group draws attention to a 2023 report published in the International Journal of Science and Archive, which shows that Kasaragod’s healthcare system is significantly behind that of all other Keralan districts. This is mainly because Kasaragod heavily depends on Mangaluru’s healthcare system.
Suvin R. Menon, the Union government’s attorney, stated in the court proceedings that the AIIMS site request is still pending with the Center. According to this statement, Kasaragod may still be given another chance to be regarded as a suitable site for the AIIMS.

The founding of AIIMS Kasaragod, according to AIIMS Kasaragod Janakeeya Koottayma, would greatly enhance the area’s healthcare system and offer long-overdue medical care to a population that has been underserved. The district is a strong contender for the construction of a super specialty hospital like AIIMS due to the large number of endosulfan victims and the overall dearth of medical services. The group’s support for Kasaragod stems from a sincere concern for public health and a wish to address the region’s chronic underfunding of its healthcare requirements.

In addition to contesting Kasaragod’s exclusion from the AIIMS proposal, the Koottayma’s petition attempts to draw attention to the larger problems of healthcare disparity and local neglect. The group contends that the ideals of openness and justice, which ought to direct such important public health choices, are compromised by the state government’s decision to finalize Kinaloor as the location for AIIMS without the necessary consultation or approval. They think that a comprehensive and objective analysis of Kasaragod’s requirements would unequivocally show that AIIMS has to be established in the area.

One of the most important things the court did to address the issues brought up by the Koottayma was to order the Union government to submit a report. This study may offer a thorough assessment of the suggested locations as well as insights into the selection of Kinaloor’s decision-making process. It also creates the possibility of reevaluating Kasaragod as a potential site for AIIMS in light of the region’s particular healthcare requirements and the pressing need for upgraded infrastructure.

The Koottayma’s efforts to bring AIIMS to Kasaragod are driven by a commitment to ensuring that the district’s residents have access to high-quality healthcare services. By advocating for the establishment of AIIMS in Kasaragod, the group hopes to address the healthcare disparities that have long plagued the region and provide a lasting solution to the medical needs of its population. The outcome of this case will not only impact the future of healthcare in Kasaragod but also set a precedent for how public health decisions are made and implemented in Kerala.

 

SOURCE:

MEDICAL DIALOGUES

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