Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has formally requested Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda to approve and sanction a National Institute for Geriatric Care and Healthy Ageing for the state of Kerala. This crucial appeal was made during a recent one-on-one meeting in New Delhi, focusing on advancing Kerala’s healthcare sector.
Highlighting the urgent need for such a facility, the Chief Minister emphasized Kerala’s rapidly aging demographic. He noted that the state’s significant and growing senior citizen population, attributed to increased life expectancy, a robust public health system, and a high quality of life, makes it an ideal location. He further suggested that an institution of this caliber in Kerala, a recognized leader in public healthcare, could serve as a beneficial model and resource for other regions across the nation.
Beyond geriatric care, Mr. Vijayan also pressed Mr. Nadda to accelerate the necessary financial approvals from the Union Finance Ministry for the establishment of an All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) at Kinalur in Kozhikode. This project represents a long-standing aspiration for Kerala, crucial for enhancing specialized medical services in the state.
Regarding AIIMS Location: Initial Proposals
The Chief Minister clarified that the Kerala government holds no bias towards any particular region for the AIIMS project. He recalled that the state initially presented a list of four potential sites to the central government. Following the Centre’s directive to narrow it down to a single choice, Kinalur was definitively selected, with 185 acres of land specifically allocated for its development.
To advance the project, Mr. Vijayan urged Minister Nadda to promptly dispatch a team to survey the identified land at Kinalur and conduct a thorough feasibility assessment. He also requested that the AIIMS project be included in the upcoming phase of the central government’s Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY) to ensure timely implementation.
Response to Minister Suresh Gopi’s Comments
Addressing a question about Union Minister Suresh Gopi’s controversial statement—where he reportedly suggested moving the proposed AIIMS to Tamil Nadu if his preferred locations in Thrissur or Alappuzha were not considered as a secondary option—Chief Minister Vijayan dismissed the remarks, stating simply that they “do not deserve a response.”
Concluding the discussion, Mr. Vijayan shared that Union Health Minister Nadda had reacted favorably to Kerala’s proposals. According to the Chief Minister, Minister Nadda confirmed that “two major health sector projects for Kerala are under the Centre’s active consideration,” signaling positive progress for the state’s healthcare future.