Union Health and Family Welfare Minister J.P. Nadda has reaffirmed the Central Government’s commitment to establishing an All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Kerala while announcing a series of healthcare initiatives aimed at strengthening the state’s medical infrastructure, digital health ecosystem and access to quality healthcare. Addressing a public event in Kerala, the Minister said the Centre remains committed to expanding tertiary healthcare capacity in the state and will continue working with the Kerala Government to advance key healthcare projects.

Reiterating the Centre’s position on the long pending AIIMS proposal, Nadda said Kerala would receive an AIIMS after all procedural and statutory requirements under the Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY) are fulfilled. He noted that discussions with the state government are ongoing regarding the proposed location and implementation framework. Alongside the AIIMS commitment, the Union Minister announced measures to strengthen medical education, improve tertiary healthcare infrastructure and expand access to specialised healthcare services across Kerala.

The Minister also highlighted the Centre’s continued investments in flagship healthcare programmes, including the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY), the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) and the expansion of Health and Wellness Centres. He said these initiatives are improving financial protection, digital health adoption and access to quality healthcare, while supporting the integration of technology into service delivery. The government will continue to promote digital health records, telemedicine, preventive healthcare and capacity building to improve patient outcomes across the country.

The announcement comes amid the Centre’s broader efforts to strengthen India’s healthcare infrastructure through the PMSSY, under which multiple AIIMS institutions have already been established or approved across the country. The initiative aims to reduce regional disparities in tertiary healthcare and medical education by creating world-class institutions equipped with advanced clinical, teaching and research facilities. Healthcare experts note that an AIIMS in Kerala would significantly enhance access to super-specialty services, medical research and specialist training for the state and the wider southern region.

Healthcare experts have welcomed the Centre’s renewed assurance, stating that the establishment of an AIIMS, coupled with continued investments in digital health and public healthcare infrastructure, would significantly strengthen Kerala’s healthcare ecosystem. The proposed initiatives are expected to improve access to advanced medical care, enhance medical education and reinforce the state’s position as one of India’s leading healthcare destinations.