7 hrs ago
Kerala Leaders Call AIIMS Denial Political Decision
Kerala's health minister and former health minister want the state to get an AIIMS.
They say the central government has refused for political reasons.
The Centre told a court that no AIIMS for Kerala had been included in a budget announcement.
It also said it was focusing on states with weaker healthcare systems.
Kerala's leaders say the state should not be denied a hospital because its healthcare has improved.
The current minister said Kerala had provided more possible locations.
He plans to write to the Union Health Minister and seek a meeting.
The former minister said her government had sent the documents the Centre required.
Kerala Health Minister K Muraleedharan and former minister Veena George accused the Centre of politically denying the state an AIIMS.
The Centre told the Kerala High Court that an AIIMS for Kerala was not included in any budget announcement under PMSSY.
The Centre also said it was prioritising states with weaker healthcare infrastructure, while Kerala has good healthcare infrastructure.
Muraleedharan said the state had provided additional proposed sites after the Centre said only one location had been offered.
George said the previous LDF government submitted required documents and urged the Centre to correct its position.
- Who
- Kerala Health Minister K Muraleedharan and former health minister Veena George made the allegations; the Centre presented its position to the Kerala High Court.
- What
- Kerala leaders said the Centre was politically denying the state an AIIMS.
- Where
- Kerala, including comments made in Palakkad and Pathanamthitta.
- When
- The report is dated October 8; the year is not stated.
- Why
- The Centre cited the absence of a budget announcement for an AIIMS in Kerala and said it was prioritising states with weaker healthcare infrastructure.
Kerala leaders
Central government
Reason for the decision
Kerala leaders
Muraleedharan and George said denying Kerala an AIIMS was a political decision and a denial of justice.
Central government
The Centre said it was prioritising states with weaker healthcare infrastructure and that Kerala has good healthcare infrastructure.
Status of an AIIMS proposal
Kerala leaders
Muraleedharan said the state provided more proposed sites, and George said the previous LDF government submitted the required documents.
Central government
The Centre told the Kerala High Court that an AIIMS for Kerala had not been included in any budget announcement under PMSSY.
Key facts
- Issue
- Whether Kerala will receive an AIIMS.
- Centre's court position
- An AIIMS for Kerala was not included in any budget announcement under the Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana.
- Centre's stated priority
- States with weaker healthcare infrastructure.
- Kerala's response
- Its leaders called the decision political and urged the Centre to reconsider.
- Proposed sites
- Muraleedharan said the state supplied additional locations after the Centre said only one had been provided.
- Next step
- Muraleedharan said he would write to Union Health Minister J P Nadda and try to meet him.
Quotes
Veena George
Former Keralam health minister
“It is a political decision of the Centre to deny an AIIMS to Keralam. It is a denial of justice to Keralam to not give it an AIIMS merely because the state has improved its health infrastructure.”
theprint.in
Sources
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