AIIMS: feather in State’s cap

The State has identified five places, including Chengalpattu and Pudukottai for setting up the premier institute this year itself, writes Ramya Kannan.

The budget announcement on setting up an All India Institute of Medical Sciences in Tamil Nadu brought cheer in the State, coming as it did on the heels of the Centre’s statement last year that an AIIMS institution would be set up in all States in a phased manner.

Most health experts say that it will be an added feather in the cap of the State which already has a pretty robust public healthcare system, one that shines in comparison with others, at least.

The State, in pursuit of the goal of getting an AIIMS allocation for itself, had assiduously made preparations, in anticipation of the eventuality. It has identified vast tracts, nearly 200 acres, in some cases, in five different locations and readied a feasibility study for each of the locations.

These five locations are: Pudukottai town in Pudukottai district, Thoppur in Madurai district, Perundurai in Erode district, Sengipatti in Thanjavur, and Chengalpattu in Kancheepuram district. Details about the extent of land available, distance from the nearest airport and road connectivity, adequacy of water supply and power connections, and proximity of an existing health care institution were provided in the report the State government sent to the Centre. It is now up to the Centre to choose one of the locations,” says a Health Department official.

Land available

All lands belong to the government and will be available soon for development, the official added. It is learnt that the institute will come up at a cost of Rs. 1,500 – Rs. 2,000 crore, and will be a comprehensive hub of medical research, treatment and education.

It may be remembered that former Chief Minister Jayalalithaa had written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi in July last year, weighing in on him to select Tamil Nadu in the list of states during that financial year itself.

She said, in her letter, “I am very keen to ensure that an institution of the stature of AIIMS is established in Tamil Nadu as it would substantially augment the facilities in the State for providing quality medical education, and also make available high end tertiary level health care in the public sector to benefit the poor and the middle classes. Tamil Nadu has a proud record of speedy implementation of such projects…”