Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said he had asked Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda to sanction a National Institute for Geriatric Care and Healthy Ageing in Kerala.
Mr. Vijayan submitted a memorandum to Mr. Nadda on the further development of Kerala’s health sector during a one-to-one meeting with the Union Minister in New Delhi on Friday.
“Kerala’s population is ageing fast. Its number of senior citizens is abundant and fast increasing, given increased life expectancy, a robust public health system, and a high physical quality of life index. Such an institution in Kerala, a national leader in public health care, could benefit other regions in the country,” he added.
The Chief Minister requested Mr. Nadda to expedite the financial clearances (from the Union Finance Ministry) required to realise Kerala’s long-standing demand for an AIIMS at Kinalur in Kozhikode. Mr. Vijayan met Mr. Nadda in New Delhi and presented a memorandum for further development of Kerala’s health sector.
Four locations
Mr. Vijayan said the Kerala government reserved no special favour for any region in the State for the establishment of an AIIMS. “Initially, we gave a list of four proposed AIIMS locations to the Centre. The Centre directed the State to propose a single location. Subsequently, the government identified Kinalur for the project and earmarked 185 acres for the project,” he added.
Mr. Vijayan requested that Mr. Nadda send a team to survey the designated land and provide a clear assessment of the feasibility at the earliest. He asked Mr. Nadda to include the project in the next phase of the Centre’s Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY).
Suresh Gopi’s statement
When asked about Union Minister Suresh Gopi’s purported threat to move the proposed AIIMS to Tamil Nadu if the State refused to consider his constituency in Thrissur or Alappuzha, as a second choice, Mr. Vijayan stated: “Such remarks do not deserve a response”.
Mr. Vijayan said Mr. Nadda had responded positively to Kerala’s demands. “Mr. Nadda told me that two major health sector projects for Kerala are under the Centre’s active consideration,” he said.
Published – October 10, 2025 04:22 pm IST
