more-in M.K. Raghavan, MP, has urged the Centre to speed up the process of setting up the proposed All India Institute of Medical Sciences-like institution in Kozhikode. Raising the issue during the zero hour in the Lok Sabha on Thursday, he said the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare had sanctioned an AIIMS in almost all the States. Now, the Kerala government has identified 200 acres in Kozhikode for the purpose, he said. The establishment of an AIIMS-like institution would give a stimulus to the healthcare sector in the Malabar region. Such an institution of national importance would benefit the vast section of population of the northern districts of the State as well the Coorg region in Karnataka and Coimbatore in Tamil Nadu to get affordable treatment, he said. Besides, Mr. Raghavan said that the institution would assist research activities. Recently, the Ministry had agreed in principle to set up an AIIMS-like institution in Kozhikode after the State government agreed to the proposal. The land at Kinalur in Kozhikode district, which is in possession of the Industries Department, had been identified by the government, he said. Four years ago, when the Centre proposed to establish 14 new AIIMS under various phases of the Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana, Kerala lost the chance as the State sat on the proposal though it had identified four locations.

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