Karwar will get multi-specialty hospital in next state budget: Siddaramaiah

Karwar: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Saturday assured that a super speciality hospital will be sanctioned for Karwar in the next state budget.

He was speaking after inaugurating the newly constructed 450-bed multi-speciality hospital building and other development works at the premises of Karwar Institute of Medical Sciences. The programme was organised by the district administration, Zilla Panchayat, Karwar Institute of Medical Sciences and the Public Works Department.

The Chief Minister said that with the aim of establishing medical colleges in every district, the government had started the medical college in Karwar in 2016 during his earlier tenure as Chief Minister. He said the 450-bed multi-speciality hospital has now been built at a cost of around Rs 200 crore.

Earlier, people from the region had to travel to Udupi, Mangaluru or Hubballi for advanced treatment. He said a super speciality hospital will be approved for Karwar in the coming budget to further strengthen healthcare facilities in the district.

Siddaramaiah said the government’s goal is to establish super speciality hospitals in every district to benefit poor patients. A cancer unit will also be set up in Karwar, he added. Providing all major medical facilities at district headquarters is a priority of the government.

He noted that Karnataka currently has 22 government medical colleges and said new colleges will be set up in Kolar, Puttur and Bijapur in the coming days.

Responding to criticism from the opposition that the government has no funds due to guarantee schemes, the Chief Minister said development work is continuing despite such allegations. He stated that Rs 2,954 crore has been spent on guarantee schemes in Uttara Kannada district so far, while nearly Rs 1,18,000 crore has been spent across the state.

He accused the BJP of criticising welfare schemes while alleging lack of development. He said that during the BJP’s tenure, bridge projects in the region were not completed. The present government, he added, will prioritise and complete the bridge project connecting Ulga and Kerwadi villages.