Bengaluru: In a significant push toward strengthening healthcare infrastructure, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, while presenting the 16th state budget on Friday, unveiled a series of ambitious initiatives aimed at enhancing medical facilities across the state.
New Medical Colleges and Hospitals
To bolster medical education and healthcare accessibility, the government will establish a new medical college in Puttur, Dakshina Kannada, this year. Additionally, a 400-bed hospital will come up in Virajpet (Kodagu), a 200-bed hospital in Molakalmuru (Chitradurga), and a state-of-the-art 200-bed hospital in Bengaluru North Taluk at an investment of ₹150 crore. The government will also upgrade the existing 100-bed taluk hospital to enhance patient care.
Empowering Maternal and Child Health
In a transformative step towards maternal well-being, Karnataka will equip hospitals with advanced technology to prevent and manage severe bleeding during childbirth. Maternity services will be modernized with innovative digital tools, and nutrition kits, incentives, and ‘affection kits’ will be distributed in backward districts to combat anemia in pregnant women. To further strengthen maternal care, MCH (Maternal and Child Health) specialists will be deployed in every taluk hospital.
Additionally, maternal mortality will be closely audited by a State Technical Expert Committee, with new preventive strategies to be implemented accordingly.
Critical Care Expansion and Health Infrastructure Boost
The government is making significant investments in emergency healthcare. 14 Critical Care Blocks with 50-bed capacity each have been established across Karnataka, along with a 100-bed Critical Care Block in Bengaluru. The state has also sanctioned the construction of 50-bed maternal and child hospitals in Athani, Hungund, and Mudhol.
In an effort to upgrade primary healthcare services, several new taluks, including Hanur, Alnavar, Annigeri, Maski, Siriwara, Kaup, Babaleswar, Kolhara, Chelur, and Teradala, will see their PHCs upgraded into Community Health Centers (CHCs).
Meanwhile, taluk hospitals in Malur, Magadi, Kushalnagar, Koratagere, Jagalur, Savanur, Ramadurga, and Savadatti, along with Davanagere District Hospital and Wenlock Hospital in Mangaluru, will be renovated at a cost of ₹650 crore. A new community health center will be set up in Ponnampet Taluk, while Tagadur CHC (Mysuru) will be upgraded into a 100-bed hospital.
To ensure hospitals remain in top condition, district and taluk hospitals requiring urgent repairs will undergo phased renovations at a cost of ₹183 crore.
Kalyana Karnataka Health Development & Cashless Treatment
Under the Kalyana Karnataka Comprehensive Health Development Scheme, the state has allocated ₹873 crore to elevate healthcare services and improve the region’s health index. A groundbreaking cashless treatment scheme will provide up to ₹5 lakh in medical coverage for over three lakh government contract, outsourcing, and honorarium-based employees. Employees will contribute ₹100 per month, while the government will pitch in ₹200, making healthcare more accessible for them and their dependents.
Focus on Rare Diseases, Cancer, and Neurological Health
To combat rare metabolic disorders, the government will roll out a pilot program in Kalyana Karnataka and mine-affected areas at a cost of ₹10 crore. Further, ₹9 crore will be invested in preventing cervical cancer in women across 20 taluks, while the HPV vaccine will be administered to 14-year-old girls at a cost of ₹50 crore.
Under the Karnataka Brain Health Initiative (KaBHI), 2.61 lakh people have already been screened for neurological disorders in collaboration with NIMHANS. Now, with an additional ₹20 crore investment, the initiative will extend across all healthcare levels. Care centers for the mentally ill will also be established in district hospitals in partnership with NGOs.
Strengthening Preventive Healthcare & Emergency Services
The ‘Gruha Arogya’ scheme, initially launched in Kolar in 2024-25, will now be expanded statewide at a cost of ₹100 crore to screen and treat six major non-communicable diseases.
Emergency services will receive a major boost as the Arogya Kavacha (108 ambulance service) will now be directly controlled by the Health Department for better efficiency. In response to the rise in vector-borne diseases like Chikungunya, Dengue, and Kyasanur Forest Disease (KFD), a special ₹50 crore campaign will be launched to implement preventive measures, particularly in the Malnad region.
Specialized Healthcare Programs & Food Safety Measures
To address hearing impairment in children, the ‘Shravan Sanjeevini’ scheme will receive ₹12 crore for early detection and cochlear implant surgeries. The government will also deploy 100 True-NAT machines in TB high-risk zones in 2025-26.
Recognizing the contributions of ASHA workers, their honorarium will be increased by ₹1,000 per month, with team-based incentives. Additionally, food safety measures will be tightened by expanding mobile food laboratories to detect unsafe and substandard food.
Statewide Medicine Distribution & Burn Injury Treatment Policy
The Karnataka State Medical Supplies Corporation Limited (KSMSCL) will be strengthened to ensure timely distribution of quality medicines to public health institutions. A new software system will be introduced for real-time monitoring of medical equipment.
In a historic move, Karnataka will become the first state in India to implement a ‘Burn Injury Treatment Policy’, providing structured treatment and rehabilitation support for burn victims.
A Bold Step Towards a Healthier Karnataka
With an impressive ₹873 crore investment in healthcare development, ₹650 crore for hospital renovations, ₹100 crore for disease screening, and a ₹5 lakh cashless treatment scheme, Karnataka is setting a new benchmark in public health infrastructure.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s budget underscores the government’s commitment to making quality healthcare accessible to every citizen, ensuring a healthier future for Karnataka.
