State Announces Major Healthcare Investments in 2025-26 Budget
Bengaluru: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah reaffirmed his government’s commitment to reducing preventable maternal mortality to zero, allocating ₹320 crore towards maternal healthcare improvements. Presenting his 16th state budget, he outlined key health infrastructure projects planned for 2025-26.
Strengthening Maternal Healthcare
A mission-mode program will be developed to minimize maternal mortality, with a focus on:
- Strengthening obstetric services in hospitals with advanced equipment.
- Using digital technology to prevent and treat postpartum hemorrhage.
- Providing nutrition kits, financial incentives, and Vatsalya Kits for mothers in backward districts.
- Deploying MCH specialists in every taluka hospital.
- Conducting maternal mortality audits through the State Technical Expert Committee, whose recommendations will guide future programs.
Healthcare Infrastructure Upgrades
To enhance healthcare facilities, several new projects have been announced:
- A 200-bed hospital in Bengaluru North Taluk at ₹150 crore.
- Upgrading PHCs in newly created taluks (Hanur, Alanavar, Annigeri, Maski, Sirivar, Kapu, Babaleshwar, Kolhar, Cheluru, and Terdal) into Community Health Centres (CHCs).
- Establishing a new CHC in Ponnampet.
- Renovating taluka hospitals in Maluru, Magadi, Kushalanagar, Koratagere, Jagaluru, Savanuru, Ramadurga, and Savadatti.
- Upgrading district hospitals in Davangere and Wenlock (Mangaluru) at a total cost of ₹650 crore.
Expansion of Medical Education and Specialty Care
- A new medical college will be established in Puttur, upgrading the 100-bed Taluka Hospital.
- A 200-bed hospital will be set up in Molakalmuru (Chitradurga district) and a 400-bed hospital in Virajapete (Kodagu district).
- The Community Health Centre in Tagaduru (Mysuru district) will be upgraded to a 100-bed hospital.
- Extensive renovations for district and taluka hospitals requiring repairs, costing ₹183 crore.
Statewide Health Initiatives
- The ‘Gruha Aarogya Scheme’, piloted in Kolar district for screening and treating six non-communicable diseases, will be expanded across Karnataka at a cost of ₹100 crore.
- The Kalyana Karnataka Comprehensive Health Scheme, aimed at improving health indicators in the region, will be implemented with ₹873 crore.
Specialty Hospitals and Cancer Care
- A cancer diagnosis unit will be set up at Bidar Government Medical College Hospital.
- NIMHANS-modelled mental health institutes will be established in Mysuru and Kalaburagi Medical Colleges at ₹100 crore each.
- A super-specialty hospital will be developed under Koppal Institute of Medical Sciences at ₹100 crore.
- A Kidwai Peripheral Cancer Treatment Unit will be set up at Rajiv Gandhi Super Specialty Hospital in Raichur for ₹50 crore.
With these measures, the Karnataka government aims to significantly enhance healthcare access, reduce maternal mortality, and strengthen the state’s medical infrastructure.
