Karnataka’s Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao has strongly criticized the Union Government for the repeated rejection of Karnataka’s request to set up an AIIMS in Raichur. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), he accused Union Health Minister JP Nadda of evading a clear response, even as 22 other states have been granted approvals for their own AIIMS.
The Minister expressed frustration, stating that the Union Government’s proposal to use funds from the National Health Mission (NHM) and PM-ABHIM schemes is untenable, as these funds have already been allocated for other ongoing needs.
In a letter dated January 14, 2025, the Union Government assured “in-principle” approval for an AIIMS in Karnataka, but emphasized that the proposal would be evaluated based on the budgetary constraints of the Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY) and other existing schemes. The state health minister rejected this response, emphasizing that AIIMS requires a dedicated budget and that the Karnataka government is fully prepared to support the project.
Rao condemned the Centre’s stance, accusing it of indirectly denying the establishment of AIIMS in Karnataka. He argued that the Centre’s treatment of the state is an ongoing injustice under the Modi-led government.
The demand for an AIIMS in Raichur has been a long-time plea, with leaders from all political parties advocating for better healthcare facilities in North Karnataka. Despite various medical initiatives, the state continues to push for a firm commitment from the Centre.
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