Karnataka Budget: 6 more medical colleges, 3 new super-specialty hospitals.

Bengaluru: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has announced several mega projects related to the medical sector, including six more medical colleges which are expected to add another 900 seats to the government quota and super-specialty hospitals in under-developed districts. New medical colleges will come up in Chitradurga, Bagalkot, Haveri, Yadgir, Chikkaballapura and Chikkamagaluru.

Super-specialty hospitals with 250-bed capacity will come up in Kalaburagi, Mysuru and Belagavi revenue divisions with 40 per cent assistance from the Centre.

A new Karnataka Institute of Endocrinology will be set up in Indiranagar, Bengaluru, using own resources, at an estimated Rs 35 crore. A unit of Jayadeva Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences and Research will be started on the premises of KIMS, Hubballi, at an estimated Rs 5 crore.

The budget proposes development of Minto Super-Specialty Hospital at an estimated Rs 10 crore. Bengaluru will have an Institute of Dermatology at an estimated Rs 10 crore to provide treatment for poor patients. NephroUrology institutes will come up in Kalaburagi and Mysuru.

Nurses will be trained in critical, terminal and heart-related illnesses through a unique simulator developed by the Karnataka Knowledge Commission. These simulators will be installed across the state.