The Kerala High Court on Wednesday, 7 October 2026, sharply questioned the Union Government's stance on the long-pending proposal to establish an All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Kerala, asking whether the state's comparatively superior healthcare infrastructure had paradoxically become a disqualification for securing the premier medical institution. A division bench of Chief Justice Soumen Sen and Justice Syam Kumar was hearing petitions seeking AIIMS status for Kerala under the Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY).

Court's Sharp Rebuke of Centre's Position

The Centre argued before the bench that states with weaker healthcare infrastructure were being prioritised, and that Kerala already possessed comparatively better medical facilities. The court took a tough view of this reasoning, asking whether it meant Kerala did not require an AIIMS at all. The bench also challenged whether the presence of a large number of private hospitals could be treated as a disqualification. 'There are more private hospitals here. Is that a disqualification?' the bench asked, pointing out that Kerala has a high population density.

The court further questioned which specific criteria Kerala had failed to satisfy, and noted that AIIMS institutions had already been established in other relatively affluent parts of the country, including New Delhi. The bench said it was not satisfied with the criteria cited by the Centre and directed the Union Government to review the issue and take necessary steps. The matter has been posted after six weeks.

A Decade of Waiting

The court noted that the AIIMS proposal for Kerala had been pending for nearly a decade, with the state having identified potential sites on earlier occasions. In October 2025, Kerala submitted a memorandum to the Union Health Minister seeking approval for an AIIMS at Kinaloor in Kozhikode. The Centre, however, maintained that identification of land did not amount to formal allocation or approval. This position was reinforced when the Centre told Parliament in July that no in-principle approval had been granted for an AIIMS in Kerala.

Kerala's Parallel Push for a Holistic Health Model

Notably, even as the AIIMS battle continues in court, the Kerala government on the same day constituted a high-level Kerala Holistic Model for Health, Wellness and Longevity Task Force, with the Chief Minister as Chairman and the Health Minister as Vice-Chairman, along with healthcare experts as members. The task force will work on a comprehensive model covering disease prevention, early detection, quality treatment, and healthy ageing.

The body will also examine the integration of modern medicine with traditional systems such as Ayurveda and explore a secure digital health platform to consolidate health information. The task force is expected to submit its report within two months, including two or three pilot projects, a three-year phased action plan, estimated costs, funding options, and mechanisms to monitor implementation and fix departmental responsibilities.

What This Means for Kerala's Healthcare Ambitions

Taken together, the AIIMS demand and the new longevity-focused task force reveal a state simultaneously fighting for access to advanced tertiary care while building a more preventive, integrated, and technology-driven health model. Critics argue that the Centre's current framework penalises states that have already invested in public health — a contradiction that, if left unaddressed, could deter other states from improving their own healthcare systems. The Kerala High Court's direction to the Union Government to review the matter ensures the issue remains in active legal and political focus. The next hearing, six weeks away, is expected to be closely watched.