Parliament Question: Setting up of AIIMS in Kerala

GOVERNMENTOFINDIA MINISTRYOFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE DEPARTMENTOFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE LOK SABHA STARREDQUESTION NO. *96 TO BE ANSWERED ONTHE 24THJULY,2026 SETTING UPOFAIIMS IN KERALA *96. SHRI V K SREEKANDAN: SHRI KODIKUNNILSURESH: Will the MINISTER OFHEALTHAND FAMILYWELFARE be pleased to state: (a) whether in principle approval has been accorded for setting up AIIMS in Kerala in view of the rare viral diseases being reported from the State quite often, if so, the details thereof alongwith the present status and the reasons for delay, indicating the criteria adopted for sanctioning of new AIIMS; (b) whether the Government is considering strengthening and upgrading of existing Government medical college hospitals instead of sanctioning a new AIIMSfor Kerala, if so, the details thereof; (c) whether the Government has received any suggestions about proposed locations for AIIMS from the State, if so, the details thereof alongwith criteria adopted for site selection; (d) whether any feasibility study, technical appraisal or inter-ministerial consultation has been undertaken inthis regard, ifso, the details thereof;and (e) whether the Government is considering expediting the setting up of AIIMS in the State without any further delay, if so, the steps taken and timeline proposed for approval and implementation? ANSWER THE MINISTER OFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE (SHRIJAGATPRAKASH NADDA) (a) to(e)AStatementislaidonthe Table of the House.STATEMENTREFERRED TO IN REPLYTOLOK SABHA STARREDQUESTION NO. *96FOR24THJULY,2026 (a) In-principle approval has not been accorded for setting up of an All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Kerala. Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY) aims to correct regional imbalances in the availability of affordable and reliable tertiary healthcare services in different parts of the country and to augment facilities for quality medical education. The broad criteria include inadequacy of tertiary healthcare facilities,adverse healthindicators, regionalimbalance intertiary care, shortage of medical colleges/apex referral institutions, State/UT's limited capacity to invest in tertiary healthcareandinadequateprivate sectorparticipationinmedicaleducationandtertiarycare. The National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) under the Central Sector Component of Pradhan Mantri Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM-ABHIM) has approved a state branch of NCDC at Kozhikode, Kerala to strengthen disease surveillance, outbreak investigation, public health laboratory support and epidemic preparedness in the State. This will strengthen the existing healthcare infrastructure andenhanceKerala'scapacitytodetectandrespondtoviraldisease outbreaks. (b) Forstrengthening andupgradingtertiaryhealthcarefacilitiesinKerala,underanothercomponent of PMSSY, upgradation of three Government Medical Colleges has been approved by way of construction of Super Speciality Blocks (SSBs) on Centre-State cost sharing basis, which have been completed. These include; (i) Trivandrum Medical College, Trivandrum (ii) TD Medical College, Alappuzha and (iii) Kozhikode Medical College, Kozhikode. In addition, Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology (SCTIMST), Trivandrum has also been approved for upgradation by way of construction of Super Speciality Block (SSB) on cost sharing basis between Ministry of Health&FamilyWelfareandDepartmentof ScienceandTechnology,Governmentof India. (c) to (e) In 2014 and 2016, the State Government of Kerala identified and proposed four sites at following locations for establishment of AIIMS in the State: (i) Kinaloor in Kozhikode district, (ii) Kattakada Taluk in Thiruvananthapuram district, (iii) Kottayam district and (iv) Ernakulam district. In 2025, the State Government of Kerala has informed about identification of land in Kinaloor, Kozhikode district for establishment of AIIMS. However, the proposal for establishment of AIIMS in Kerala has not beenapprovedunderthe scheme. *****