The Jana Sena Party (JSP) Rajya Sabha member Lingamaneni Ramesh wrote to Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda asking the Centre to approve two additional AIIMS in the reorganised State of Andhra Pradesh – one in Rayalaseema and another in the north‑coastal Uttarandhra. He also sought to upgrade the existing AIIMS‑Mangalagiri into a full‑fledged national centre of excellence.
Key Developments
- Letter to the Union Health Minister requesting sanction of two new AIIMS – one in Rayalaseema and another in Uttarandhra.
- Proposal to upgrade AIIMS‑Mangalagiri to a national centre of excellence.
- Argument that a single AIIMS cannot meet the health needs of a ~five crore population spread across three regions.
Important Facts
The existing AIIMS‑M was set up under the PMSSY after the 2014 bifurcation of the unified Andhra Pradesh. It quickly became a premier tertiary care centre serving patients from Andhra Pradesh and neighbouring states. However, patients from Rayalaseema travel several hundred kilometres for advanced care, and those from Uttarandhra often go outside Visakhapatnam for specialised treatment.
Exam Relevance
This issue touches upon several UPSC themes: health infrastructure development under central schemes (GS3), the impact of reorganised State of Andhra Pradesh on resource allocation (GS2), and the challenge of regional disparity in public services (GS4). Understanding how central ministries coordinate with state governments to address such disparities is crucial for answering questions on federalism and welfare policies.
Way Forward
To ensure balanced health services, the Centre could:
- Sanction the two new AIIMS, locating them strategically in Rayalaseema and Uttarandhra.
- Upgrade AIIMS‑Mangalagiri with additional super‑specialty departments and research facilities.
- Integrate these institutions with state health networks to create referral pathways.
- Monitor implementation through a joint committee of the Union Health Ministry and the Andhra Pradesh government.