AIIMS: Madurai residents upbeat over cabinet nod

The cabinet met on Monday and accorded its permission to the project, which is now set to come up on a sprawling 200 acre area at Thoppur.

According to M Mohammed Naleem, a resident of SS Colony, the super multi specialty hospital will benefit patients from economically-weak background.

“Once the hospital is opened, medical services can be availed by common man at an affordable cost. Moreover, the quality of the medical service rendered would be high,” Naleem said.

Recalling the fight for the hospital, K K Ramesh, a resident of Munichalai, said he had filed public interest litigation petitions on four occasions since 2014 in this regard.

“After a struggle which lasted for a period of five years, the Central Government has approved the facility in Madurai. It was in 2014 that it was announced the AIIMS Hospital would come up in Tamil Nadu. After this announcement, however, there was no progress,” he said. “Only after the intervention of the Madras High Court did the Union Health Secretary finally declare on June 19, 2018 that the hospital would come up at Thoppur,” Ramesh said.

Welcoming the approval, Ramaseshan of Sikkander Chavadi said, “The project needs to be executed without any further delay.”

“Availing medical service is a fundamental right of each and every citizen. The cabinet approval should not just be on paper, but transform into a reality for people, especially those belonging to the southern districts of Tamil Nadu,” Ramaseshan added.