Kerala High Court questions Centre's delay in establishing AIIMS facility

The Kerala High Court has expressed concern over the Central government's apparent reluctance to establish an AIIMS facility in the state, questioning whether Kerala's existing robust healthcare infrastructure is being held against it. During hearings on the matter, the court suggested this reasoning was counterintuitive and sought clarification from Union authorities on the criteria being applied to reject the proposal. Judges noted that Kerala's well-developed medical ecosystem should strengthen, rather than weaken, its case for hosting a premier national medical institute. The court emphasised that Kerala warrants priority consideration given its substantial population density and existing healthcare achievements. The bench directed the Centre to undertake a formal, conscious review of the state's AIIMS proposal and communicate its decision with reasoned justification. The ruling underscores the state's long-standing demand for a national institute of medical sciences, which health experts argue would serve the broader South Asian region and bolster India's medical research capabilities. Kerala currently lacks an AIIMS despite being home to several renowned medical colleges and research institutions.