Renewing their demand to establish the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) model hospital at Thoppur here, a delegation comprising members from trade and industry from southern districts met Union Health and Family Welfare Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda in New Delhi.
A press release issued here on Tuesday said that Tamil Nadu Chamber of Commerce and Industry senior president S. Rethinavelu, president N. Jagatheesan, Virudhunagar Chamber of Commerce secretary V.R. Muthu, R.G. Chandramohan, MD Hatsun Agro Foods, and All India Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Thoothukudi general secretary P. Mayilvel, accompanied by Union Minister Nirmala Seetharaman met Mr. Jagat Prakash Nadda.
The points highlighted by the delegation were that in 2015, when Jayalalithaa was then Chief Minister, had recommended five locations, including Madurai, to the Union government for establishing the AIIMS.
Following this, a study group led by Dharitri Panda from the Union Ministry inspected Kancheepuram, Thanjavur, Erode, Pudukottai and Madurai.
With Coimbatore and Chennai having speciality hospitals, the people in western and northern districts of Tamil Nadu were relatively placed in a comfortable position as they got better treatment.
To narrow down the imbalance, the Chamber had been suggesting to establish a state-of-the-art super speciality hospital in Madurai, which is considered as the gateway to southern districts.
With about 2.32 crore population, which is 29 per cent of the TN’s population, spread over 13 districts from Theni to Kanyakumari and parts of central districts, including Tiruchi, Pudukottai and Thanjavur districts, Madurai was ideally located.
The land identified for the proposed construction of AIIMS at Thoppur was not only close to the Madurai airport (just seven km), but also had good water and other amenities.
The Chamber of Commerce and Industry had also reliable information that the study group had favoured Madurai as the ideal location after an inspection. Considering the above aspects, the Union Minister should take a positive step in the public interest, the statement said.
After the members insisted for an early announcement, since States like Jammu and Kashmir and Punjab, who were also getting AIIMS model hospital in their States, had begun construction last year after the Centre had earmarked funds.
The delegation, according to the statement, was informed by the Minister that the Centre would take a call on this in about a month.
