Kerala HC questions Centre on AIIMS allocation despite strong healthcare infrastructure

The Kerala High Court raised pointed questions regarding the Centre's approach to AIIMS allocation during proceedings on Wednesday, questioning whether the state's comparatively advanced healthcare infrastructure could be used as a reason to deny it a facility.

The court's intervention comes as Kerala continues to advocate for an AIIMS establishment within its borders. The state has long sought a central medical institute to complement its existing health infrastructure, which ranks among the better-developed systems in the country.

The high court's query touched on a fundamental policy question: whether states with stronger healthcare systems should be disadvantaged in the competitive allocation of premier national medical institutions. The Centre has not publicly detailed its criteria for AIIMS site selection, leading to questions about the transparency and equity of the process.

Keeping pace with India's broader healthcare expansion strategy, the government has approved multiple AIIMS institutions across various states over recent years. The Kerala petition suggests the state believes it meets necessary benchmarks and deserves consideration for such a prestigious facility.

The proceedings indicate growing scrutiny of the Centre's resource allocation mechanisms, with the court apparently signalling that existing healthcare capacity should not serve as a disqualifying factor in determining which states receive major medical institutions.