Steps to set up an All-India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), fast-tracking of ongoing development projects at the Government Medical College Hospital (MCH), and completion of work on the Kerala Institute of Organ and Tissue Transplant are among Kozhikode’s wish list in the health sector before the United Democratic Front government.

According to latest reports, the Centre continues to be evasive on the lack of approval for an AIIMS in the State. The previous Left Democratic Front government had proposed to establish it at Balussery in Kozhikode district. Around 150 acres have been acquired for the purpose, and another 100 acres are being taken over now. Replying to queries from Kerala MPs in the Lok Sabha, Prataprao Jadhav, Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, recently said, “the proposal for the establishment of AIIMS in Kerala has not been approved.” 

Meanwhile, the authorities at the medical college hospital are hopeful that the new government will address their long-pending grievances related to staff shortage. They point out that even though there has been a huge increase in the number of patients in recent times, a proportional rise in staff strength has not happened.

Another major project is a Level One Trauma Care Centre. This is supposed to be part of a pan-India trauma care network in government hospitals to ensure that no trauma victim has to be transported for more than 50 km and a designated trauma centre is available at every 100 km. Parts of the facility is already functional. An exclusive Burns Unit is also being set up under the National Programme for Prevention and Management of Burn Injuries of the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. 60% of funds for the unit is sanctioned by the Centre, and the rest is borne by the State government. Another important ongoing project is a multi-disciplinary intensive care unit. Work on a reproductive medicine unit and a multi-disciplinary research unit is also underway.

The organ transplant institute is being implemented in two phases. The estimated cost for the first phase is ₹299 crore. The funds are being sourced from the Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board. In the first phase, a 350-bed facility with an intensive care unit, dialysis centre, high dependency unit, and 10 operation theatres are being set up. The institute will have 14 speciality departments and divisions. It will also function as a training and research centre for doctors and paramedical staff in the transplant sector. There is a plan to launch academic courses too.