Government committed to providing quality healthcare for the underprivileged: CM Siddaramaiah
Mangaluru: The state government is determined to ensure quality healthcare for the underprivileged, said Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. Speaking at the foundation stone-laying ceremony for the regional office of Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences (RGUHS) at Mary Hill on Friday, he emphasised the need for government institutions to work with a people-centric approach.
The Chief Minister highlighted the government’s aim to make public hospitals as hygienic and well-maintained as private ones, ensuring quality medical facilities are accessible to all. "We are striving to create a system where even the wealthy and politicians like us feel comfortable visiting government hospitals," he said.
He also noted that RGUHS, announced in the previous budget, is Asia’s largest health sciences university, with over 3.5 lakh medical students. The institution is expected to play a pivotal role in producing skilled medical professionals and providing high-quality healthcare services.
Siddaramaiah urged the university to focus on research to simplify healthcare services for the public and make top-notch medical services affordable for the underprivileged. He also encouraged medical graduates to remain in the healthcare sector and contribute to society instead of seeking opportunities elsewhere.
The CM informed that medical colleges have been directed to provide free healthcare services to BPL cardholders. He also expressed hope that the newly constructed regional office would maintain high standards of functionality and infrastructure.
RGUHS Vice-Chancellor Dr. M.K. Ramesh shared details about the advanced facilities planned for the regional centre, including an innovative simulation lab, a sports complex, an upgraded fitness centre, recreational amenities, air-conditioned auditoriums, and advanced research centres.
Speaker U.T. Khader, a guest of honour at the event, said that establishing the RGUHS regional centre had been a long-standing dream. He hoped it would become a source of pride for the coastal region.
Minister for Medical Education Dr. Sharan Prakash Rudrappa Patil stated that the government is focused on decentralising authority, providing quality education, and enhancing skills for students. He noted that Karnataka and Tamil Nadu have the highest number of medical colleges in the country and emphasised the government’s commitment to providing affordable healthcare to the underprivileged.
The event was attended by Dakshina Kannada district in-charge minister Dinesh Gundu Rao, MP Brijesh Chowta, MLAs Dr. Bharath Shetty, Vedavyas Kamath, Ashok Kumar Rai, Ivan D’Souza, Dr. Manjunath Bhandari, and others, along with senior officials, including Dr. Sujata Rathod, Dr. Triveni, and several members of the RGUHS senate.
The Chief Minister reiterated the necessity of establishing a government medical college in Dakshina Kannada despite the availability of quality healthcare in Mangaluru. "A government medical college for every district is my vision, and we are considering steps in this direction," he said.
Prof. Dr. UT Iftikhar Ali, Chairman of the Karnataka State Allied and Health Protection Council, delivered the vote of thanks towards the end of the event.
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Thumbay Group begins work on Sharjah’s first private integrated psychiatric, rehabilitation hospital
Sharjah: Thumbay Group has laid the foundation stone for the Thumbay Psychiatric and Rehabilitation Hospital at Sharjah Healthcare City, a 120-bed facility that the company says will be the region’s first private, fully integrated hospital dedicated to psychiatric care, neuro-rehabilitation and addiction recovery.
The groundbreaking ceremony was led by Dr. Abdelaziz Saeed Al Mheiri, who is also a member of the Sharjah Executive Council, in the presence of Dr. Thumbay Moideen.
Spread across 110,000 square feet, the hospital is being developed to address growing demand for specialised mental health and rehabilitation services in the UAE and the wider Gulf region.
The facility will include inpatient and outpatient services in psychiatry, neuro-rehabilitation, addiction treatment, child and adolescent mental health, and care for mood and anxiety disorders. It will also feature VIP inpatient villas designed to provide privacy and support long-term recovery.
A mosque, named the Thumbay Masjid, will be constructed within the campus and will be open to the public.
The hospital is being designed to meet standards for Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF), an internationally recognised accreditation system for rehabilitation facilities.
Speaking at the event, Dr. Abdelaziz Saeed Al Mheiri said the project reflects Sharjah’s commitment to strengthening healthcare infrastructure in all aspects of wellbeing.
“Mental health and rehabilitation have long needed dedicated infrastructure, and we are proud to support a private partner whose vision matches the ambition of this Emirate,” he said.
Dr. Thumbay Moideen said the project was a response to a growing need for specialised mental healthcare services in the region.
“We have spent over three decades building healthcare in this region, and the one conversation that has grown louder every year is mental health. Families have been carrying this quietly for too long. This hospital is our answer. It is purpose-built, not retrofitted, and it has been designed around dignity, recovery, and outcomes that families can trust,” he said.
Construction is scheduled to begin in June 2026, and the hospital is expected to become operational by mid-2027.
Once completed, the facility will become part of Thumbay Group’s network of healthcare, education and diagnostic institutions across the UAE.
