Kerala: Delay in consensus costs AIIMS

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: While Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, health minister K.K. Shailaja and politicians from all hues have been crying foul over the denial of All India Institute of Medical Science (AIIMS) to state, the big question is did the successive governments do their homework properly to deserve the prestigious project. The Cabinet had shortlisted six sites as early as July 2014 for setting up AIIMS. Even detailed proposal was submitted to the Centre.

Initially, the following sites with an area of over 200 acres each were short-listed; Thiruvananthapuram – Nettukaltheri, Kottayam – near Medical College, Ernakulam – HMT land Kalamassery and Kozhikode – KSIDC land at Kinaloor. But a section of ministers and politicians in UDF Government favoured HMT land considering accessibility for people of southern, central and northern parts of the state.  Another batch favoured KSIDC land in Kinaloor Kozhikode. The confusion went on during UDF government’s tenure and even continued when LDF came to power. While politicians kept arguing over ideal site, the Centre cleared AIIMS in 17 other states.

It was only recently that all MPs from Kerala reached a consensus on Kinaloor land. But that effort was too little, too late.The project is considered significant as it would bring in investment worth Rs 2,000 in the health sector besides advanced health care and research facilities. Experts say Kerala with its highly advanced and comprehensive health care infrastructure, would have benefitted immensely form such a prestigious institute. They say politicians and bureaucrats should take a leaf from the efforts made to bring IIT to Palakkad. Senior officials used to make regular trips to Delhi to keep pressure on the Centre and interact with people who mattered frequently.

Even as politicians vied with each other for getting the proposed AIIMS in their respective areas, the condition of the five government medical colleges which are bursting at the seams, deteriorated fast. All existing services - in patient, out patient, super speciality are being stretched to limits because of secondary care institutions' failure to step in effectively.  Though the 1,250 odd health department institutions including district, general, taluk, CHCs and PHCs together account for over 30,000 beds, the facilities are not being utilised fully. Thiruvananthapuram medical college hospital and associated wings which have nearly 3,500 beds, have almost double the number of patients at a given time. Similar situation prevails at medical college Kottayam with 1604 beds, Thrissur medical college – 1564 and Calicut Medical College –  3300 beds.