Kerala’s Push for an All‑India Institute of Medical Sciences Faces Legal Hurdles

The Kerala High Court on Wednesday interrogated the Union government's approach to the decades‑old demand for an All‑India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in the state. The matter was heard by a two‑judge bench headed by Chief Justice Soumen Sen and Justice Shyam Kumar, hearing petitions filed under the Prime Minister's Health Security Scheme (PMSSY).

The Centre justified its stance by stating that states with weaker health‑care infrastructure are prioritized and that Kerala already possesses a relatively strong public health system. The judges pressed the government on whether this viewpoint effectively rules out the need for an AIIMS in a state that boasts a high population density and a sizable private‑hospital sector.

The bench questioned if the large number of private hospitals could be interpreted as a shortfall. “Kerala has many private hospitals. Does that make the state ineligible for AIIMS?” the judges asked.

The court noted that AIIMS institutions have already been set up in Delhi and other prosperous regions, yet Kerala’s proposal remains pending despite being on record for almost ten years. The state previously identified land at Kinalloor, Kozhikode, and submitted a memorandum to the Union Health Minister in October 2025 seeking approval.

While the Centre clarified that land identification is not equivalent to formal allocation, the bench directed the Centre to review the case and take appropriate measures. The next hearing is scheduled for six weeks later.

Concurrently, the Kerala government has constituted a high‑level task force, chaired by the Chief Minister with the Health Minister as vice‑chair, to develop a comprehensive health, wellness and longevity model. The task force will evaluate the integration of traditional systems like Ayurveda with modern medicine and explore a secure digital health‑information platform. A detailed report, including pilot projects, a three‑year phased plan, cost estimates, financing options and monitoring mechanisms, is expected within two months.