Karnataka: Kalaburagi to Get New Child super-speciality healthcare facility

 Kalaburagi: In a significant move to enhance pediatric healthcare in the Kalyana Karnataka (Hyderabad Karnataka) region, Medical Education Minister Dr. Sharan Prakash Patil announced that the foundation stone for a branch of Indira Gandhi Institute of Child Health will be laid in Kalaburagi within the next 3-4 months.

The new facility, set to cost Rs 90 crore, aims to provide super-speciality treatment to children in the region.

"The new branch of the Indira Gandhi Institute of Child Health will be a significant addition to our healthcare infrastructure," Dr Patil said while laying the foundation stone for a 50-bed ICU and a 30-bed Burns Unit at the Gulbarga Institute of Medical Sciences (GIMS) premises on Saturday. The ICU and Burns Unit, costing Rs 30.14 crore and Rs 15.57 crore respectively, are expected to be completed within the next one-and-a-half years.

"The critical care unit and burn unit at GIMS will be completed within the next one-and-a-half years, providing essential services beyond the trauma center, which has already proven its value since its inauguration last year," he said.

Dr Patil said that earlier residents of Kalaburagi had to travel to Solapur, Hyderabad, or Bengaluru for specialized medical treatments.

"The introduction of Article 371J has played a crucial role in reducing regional disparities by facilitating the establishment of institutions like Jayadeva, Mother and Child Hospital, GIMS, Critical Care Unit, Burn Unit, Trauma Centre and Kidwai Hospital. Kalaburagi is being transformed into a medical hub, fulfilling the vision of Mallikarjun Kharge. Our government's goal is to provide quality and free medical care to the local population, especially the poor," Dr. Patil emphasized.

The GIMS campus is also set to see the inauguration of a 371-bed Jayadeva Heart Hospital and a super-specialty hospital within the next three months.

"The civil work of the super-specialty hospital will be completed by the end of this month, and a tender has been called for the furniture. Appointments will also be made soon," Dr. Patil added.

Additionally, a 200-bed Mother and Child Hospital is being constructed at a cost of Rs 92 crore on the GIMS premises. An extension building for Kidwai Hospital, costing Rs 72 crore, will also be constructed.

He also highlighted the increasing preference for GIMS among students, making it one of the most sought-after medical institutions after Bengaluru, Mysuru, Hubballi, and Ballari.

District in-charge Minister Priyank Kharge, who also holds the portfolio for Rural Development, Panchayat Raj, Information Technology, and Biotechnology, lauded the impact of Article 371J.

"The special provisions have enabled the establishment of medical institutions in our region, bringing in more funds and creating 7,000 medical seats for children over the past decade. Our government is committed to not just building infrastructure but also fostering human resource development," he said, noting that states like Bihar and Andhra Pradesh are seeking similar reservations.

Laptops and educational equipment were distributed to medical students during the ceremony, further supporting the region's educational and healthcare advancements.