Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, while presenting his 16th state budget, reaffirmed his government’s commitment to eliminating preventable maternal deaths. To achieve this goal, the state has allocated ₹320 crore towards maternal health initiatives, aiming to significantly reduce maternal mortality.
A mission-mode program will be launched to ensure maternal deaths are minimized. Hospitals will be equipped with advanced obstetric care facilities, focusing on preventing and managing severe postpartum hemorrhage through innovative digital technologies. To combat anemia among pregnant women, the government will distribute nutrition kits, financial assistance, and Vatsalya Kits in backward districts. Additionally, Maternal and Child Health (MCH) specialists will be deployed in every taluka hospital by reorganizing existing positions.
The maternal mortality cases will be closely monitored, with audits conducted by the State Technical Expert Committee. The committee’s recommendations will be forwarded to the State Empowered Committee, which will guide policy adjustments to further reduce maternal deaths. This move comes in response to previous concerns over maternal deaths in the state.
In an effort to enhance medical facilities, the government has announced the construction of a 200-bedded state-of-the-art hospital in Bengaluru North Taluk at a cost of ₹150 crore. Furthermore, Primary Health Centres (PHCs) in newly established taluks, including Hanur, Alanavar, Annigeri, Maski, Sirivar, Kapu, Babaleshwar, Kolhar, Cheluru, and Terdal, will be upgraded to Community Health Centres (CHCs). A new CHC is also planned for Ponnampet.
Renovation efforts will be undertaken in taluka hospitals in Maluru, Magadi, Kushalanagar, Koratagere, Jagaluru, Savanuru, Ramadurga, and Savadatti, as well as district hospitals in Davangere and Wenlock Hospital in Mangaluru. The project will cost approximately ₹650 crore.
A new medical college is planned for Puttur, with steps underway to upgrade the existing 100-bedded taluka hospital to facilitate this transition. Additionally, a 200-bedded hospital will be developed in Molakalmuru (Chitradurga district), while Virajapete (Kodagu district) will see the establishment of a 400-bedded hospital. The Community Health Centre in Tagaduru (Mysuru district) will also be expanded into a 100-bedded hospital.
Under the “Gruha Aarogya Scheme,” which was initially piloted in Kolar district to detect and treat six non-communicable diseases, the initiative will now be extended across the entire state at an estimated cost of ₹100 crore.
In a bid to strengthen Karnataka’s healthcare landscape, ₹183 crore has been earmarked for phased renovations of district and taluk hospitals in dire need of repairs. The Kalyana Karnataka Comprehensive Health Scheme will receive a substantial investment of ₹873 crore to uplift healthcare services, improve health indicators, and reinforce the health infrastructure in the region.
A cancer diagnosis unit is set to be established at Bidar Government Medical College Hospital. Furthermore, NIMHANS-modeled mental health institutes will be set up at Mysuru and Kalaburagi Medical Colleges, each with a funding of ₹100 crore.
Other notable developments include a super-specialty hospital under the Koppal Institute of Medical Sciences, with an allocated budget of ₹100 crore, and a Kidwai Peripheral Cancer Treatment Unit at the Rajiv Gandhi Super Specialty Hospital in Raichur, costing ₹50 crore.
Through these extensive healthcare initiatives, the Karnataka government aims to enhance medical accessibility, reduce maternal mortality, and provide high-quality healthcare services to its citizens.
