Thiruvananthapuram: The State Government is actively moving forward with procedures to make the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) a reality in Kerala. Although the State had previously handed over one site to the Ministry of Health, the Central Government's current stance is that at least four locations must be proposed. Following this, the State Government identified 10 locations and submitted the list to the Centre.

The Health Department compiled this list after accepting proposals from six MLAs, one MP and a voluntary organisation. During a recent online meeting held by State Minister K Muraleedharan with the Union Health Minister J P Nadda, the demand for AIIMS was strongly raised. Nadda’s assurance that the procedures will be completed to sanction AIIMS in a time-bound manner is being viewed with optimism.

The Central Government had announced in 2014 that AIIMS could be sanctioned if at least 200 acres of land were provided. Following this declaration, AIIMS institutes became operational at five locations across the country.

In September 2024, the Left Democratic Front (LDF) government handed over 61.84 hectares of land acquired across Kinaloor and Kanthalad villages in Kozhikode district to the Department of Medical Education and informed the Union Health Ministry.

Under the current circumstances, proposals were received from Rajmohan Unnithan MP, Minister Anoop Jacob, Deputy Speaker Shanimol Usman and MLAs K Binimon, Saneesh Kumar Joseph, V T Suraj and Sandeep Variyar. The ‘Janakeeya Prathikarana Vedi’ (People’s Response Forum) of Peruva in Kottayam, have also submitted a proposal.

The stance of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will also be crucial in the final selection of the site. It is reported that Union Minister Suresh Gopi is of the opinion that AIIMS should ideally be established in either Thrissur or Alappuzha district.

Proposed sites by Kerala

  • Kozhikode: Kinalur
  • Thrissur: Koratty
  • Kottayam: Velloor, Arpookara, Vaikom
  • Kasaragod: Cheemeni
  • Ernakulam: Kalamassery
  • Thiruvananthapuram: Neyyar, Kattakkada Thevankode
  • Alappuzha: Pallippuram