Medical college to be set up in Puttur, 400-bed hospital in Virajpet, announces CM in state budget
Bengaluru: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah during the presentation of the 16th state budget on Friday, announced the state government’s plans to set up a new medical college in Puttur, Dakshina Kannada, in the current year.
Similarly, a 400-bed hospital will be set up in Virajpet in Kodagu district and a 200-bed hospital in Molakalmuru in Chitradurga district. A 200-bed state-of-the-art and well-equipped hospital in Bengaluru North taluk will be built at a cost of Rs. 150 crore, the CM announced.
The Chief Minister revealed plans to upgrade the existing 100-bed taluk hospital in the current year.
“Necessary equipment will be provided to prevent and treat severe bleeding in pregnant women and during childbirth. Maternity services will be strengthened through innovative digital technology. Nutrition kits, incentive money and affection kits for mothers will be distributed in backward districts to prevent anemia in pregnant women,” he said.
Furthermore he also unveiled plans to deploy MCH (Maternal and Child Health) specialists in every taluk hospital by reallocating posts. He stated , “Maternal mortality in the state will be audited by the State Technical Expert Committee and the recommendations will be presented before the State Empowered Committee. Plans will be formulated to prevent maternal mortality as per the directions of the committee.”
Additionally the Siddaramaiah highlighted that some steps have been taken in terms of health infrastructure development. “Accordingly, 14 Critical Care Blocks with a capacity of 50 beds have been constructed in the state and one Critical Care Block with a capacity of 100 beds in Bengaluru city. Approval has been given to establish 50-bed maternal and child hospitals in Athani, Hungund and Mudhol.” he said.
“Under the Asha Kirana National Blindness Eradication Programme, 1.4 crore people have been screened for eye diseases; 3.3 lakh people have been given free spectacles and 93,800 people have undergone cataract surgeries. Under the Karnataka Brain Health Initiative (KaBHI) for neurological diseases, a total of 2.61 lakh people have been screened in collaboration with National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS) and 32,630 neurological patients have been treated. Rs. 20 crore has been provided to extend this scheme to all levels of health centers this year. In addition, care centers will be set up in district-level hospitals in collaboration with non-government organizations for the care of mentally ill people,” he announced.
He also revealed that the state government intends to upgrade primary health centres (PHC’s) in newly declared taluks which include Hanur, Alnavar, Annigeri, Maski, Siriwara, Kaup, Babaleswar, Kolhara, Chelur, Teradala as Community Health Centers.
He also announced plans to renovate taluk level hospitals of Malur, Magadi, Kushalnagar, Koratagere, Jagalur, Savanur, Ramadurga and Savadatti as well as Davanagere District Hospital and Wenlock Hospital in Mangaluru at a total cost of Rs. 650 crore. In addition to starting a new community health center in Ponnampet taluk.
Accordingly, Tagadur Community Health Center in Mysuru district will be upgraded to a 100-bed hospital. District hospitals and taluk hospitals that require more repairs will be repaired in phases at a cost of Rs. 183 crore, the CM added.
Furthermore, “Under the Kalyana Karnataka Comprehensive Health Development Scheme, various projects will be undertaken to strengthen the health system at a total cost of Rs. 873 crore to provide quality health services and improve the health index of the Kalyana Karnataka region. A plan has been made to provide cashless treatment of up to Rs. 5 lakh to more than three lakh staff members and dependents working on contract, outsourcing and honorarium basis in various government departments. The staff will contribute Rs. 100 per month and the government will contribute Rs. 200 per month. It will be implemented through the Suvarna Health Trust.”
He also announced a program to be developed to detect rare metabolic disorders in prenatal and newborn babies. He stated that in the first phase, it will be implemented experimentally in Kalyana Karnataka and mine-affected areas at a cost of Rs. 10 crore. He said, “In order to prevent cervical cancer in women, in the first phase, Rs. 9 crore will be provided in 20 taluks of the mine-affected and Kalyana Karnataka region. In addition, HPV vaccine will be given to 14-year-old girls at a cost of Rs. 50 crore.”
“Under the 'Gruha Arogya' scheme, a screening and treatment program for six non-communicable diseases has been launched in Kolar district in 2024-25, and this scheme will be expanded across the state at a cost of Rs. 100 crore. With the aim of improving the 108 ambulance service, the 'Arogya Kavacha' service will be strengthened by bringing the command control center that controls this service under the Health Department. For the effective control of infectious diseases such as Chikungunya, Dengue and Kyasanur Forest Disease (KFD) seen in the Malnad region, preventive control measures will be taken in the form of a special campaign at a cost of Rs. 50 crore,” the CM announced.
He also stated that under the “Shravan Sanjeevini” scheme, Rs. 12 crore will be provided for early detection of hearing loss in children and for cochlear implant surgery and maintenance, repair and replacement of implant components. “100 True-NAT machines will be provided to health centers with high TB cases in 2025-26. The honorarium of ASHA workers will be increased by Rs. 1,000 by providing team-based incentives. To ensure the quality and safety of food, food samples are being analyzed through mobile food laboratories, unsafe and substandard food is being identified and action is being taken as per the law,” he said.
He highlighted that, “Karnataka State Medical Supplies Corporation Limited (KSMSCL) will be strengthened to distribute quality medicines in public health institutions. Software will be introduced for monitoring and maintenance of medical equipment.”
Meanwhile, regarding the prevention of burn injuries and treatment of victims, the CM announced that the state will implement the Burn Injury Treatment Policy for the first time in the country.
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KMC Mangaluru team led by Dr. Haroon files patent for absorbent pads for elderly women
Aims to address urinary incontinence in elderly women
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Mangaluru: Kasturba Medical College (KMC) has filed a patent application for “Absorbent Pads” designed to address urinary incontinence among elderly women, a condition that remains largely underreported despite its widespread impact.
Urinary incontinence does not command urgency like a heart attack, nor does it evoke the same collective response as more visible illnesses. However, for those living with it, the burden is constant, intimate, and often isolating.
There is a gradual and often unspoken impact on daily life. It begins with hesitation, declining invitations, avoiding travel, and choosing silence over conversation. Over time, this can lead to withdrawal, where fear of embarrassment starts shaping everyday decisions. For many elderly women, dignity becomes tied to small, often invisible compromises, including limiting outings or adjusting routines.
What makes this condition particularly poignant is not just its prevalence, but its invisibility. It is endured, not expressed. Accepted, not addressed.
It is in this context that the recent innovation assumes importance. The team at KMC, which includes clinicians such as Dr Haroon Hussain, has approached the issue not merely from a technical standpoint but from the perspective of lived experience.
The proposed solution, biodegradable, antimicrobial absorbent pads with improved fluid control and reduced irritation, aims to go beyond basic functionality, addressing comfort, safety, and dignity.
The development also reflects the role of academic institutions in addressing everyday health challenges. When research focuses not only on major diseases but also on conditions that affect quality of life, it reinforces the broader purpose of healthcare.
However, experts note that innovation alone cannot fully address the issue. Urinary incontinence continues to be underreported, often dismissed as an inevitable consequence of ageing. Many women do not seek medical help, not due to a lack of solutions, but because of stigma and discomfort associated with discussing the condition.
This creates a paradox, a widespread issue that is often experienced in isolation.
Medical professionals emphasise that greater awareness and open conversations are essential. Families must learn to speak about such issues without embarrassment. Healthcare providers must create spaces where patients feel heard without judgment.
The significance of this innovation lies not only in its technical aspects but also in what it brings into focus, that even the most private discomforts deserve public attention.
The patent application was filed by a team comprising Dr. Haroon Hussain, Dr. Sameena, Dr. Ritu Raval of Manipal Institute of Technology, Syed Ayaan Hussain Rizvi, and Suzanne Riya Dsouza.
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