Charaka Super Speciality Hospital reopens with state-of-the-art facilities

Bengaluru: The Charaka Government Super-Speciality Hospital in Shivajinagar has officially opened its doors, marking a significant milestone in the region's healthcare infrastructure. This state-of-the-art facility, boasting five stories and 150 beds, is poised to offer advanced medical services across four major super-specialty fields, setting a new standard for patient care and treatment.

The Charaka Government Super-Speciality Hospital was inaugurated on Monday by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, Medical Education Minister Dr Sharan Prakash Patil, and Shivajinagar MLA Rizwan Arshad. Previously under the BBMP until 2019, the hospital was repurposed as a Covid Care Centre during the pandemic. Subsequently, the Medical Education Department took charge and transformed it into a super-specialty hospital.

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In addition to the casualty wards and a minor operating theater, the ground floor of Charaka Government Super-Speciality Hospital includes a registration desk at the entrance with separate counters designed to streamline the registration process for women, senior citizens, and disabled individuals.

The hospital’s infrastructure extends beyond the OPD. The first two floors of Charaka Government Super-Speciality Hospital accommodate the duty rooms and general wards, while the third floor is dedicated to the intensive care unit (ICU) and operation theatres.

Dr Srikanth HM, Liaison Officer at Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Medical College and Research Institute, to which Charaka Government Super-Speciality Hospital is affiliated, noted that the facility includes two operation theatres, 25 ICU beds, a cath lab for heart conditions, five emergency rooms, nine semi-special rooms, and six special rooms.

At present, Charaka Government Super-Speciality Hospital is staffed with two consultants each in the fields of cardiology and plastic surgery, along with one consultant each for neurosurgery and urology, the latter of whom has been transferred from Bowring Hospital. Additionally, from Tuesday onward, the hospital will see the arrival of ten to twelve junior residents from Bowring Hospital, who will be posted to assist in various medical departments at Charaka.

Dr Srikanth informed DH that while the OPD is scheduled to open to the public on Tuesday, the operating theatres (OTs) and cardiac units will require fumigation and sanitization before they can be made accessible in the following days.

Patients will be charged a nominal fee of ₹10 for OPD services. Over the next few days, the hospital will determine the rates for all other surgical and treatment services by reviewing the pricing structures of other super-specialty hospitals, according to officials.

Patients without a BPL card or caste certificate will be eligible for treatment under the Chief Minister's fund, according to officials. BPL card holders, on the other hand, can receive free treatment once admitted under the Ayushman Bharat Arogya Karnataka scheme.

Dr Srikanth stated, as reported by the Deccan Herald, "We are in the process of signing an MoU with the BBMP and police to provide them with free treatment at our facility. We will likely extend this arrangement to other departments as well."

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has directed hospital authorities to maintain high standards of cleanliness on the hospital premises. He emphasized that poor and lower-middle-class individuals rely on government hospitals because they cannot afford to pay substantial hospital bills. He expressed confidence that Charaka Hospital would significantly enhance healthcare access and quality for the community.

The opening of Charaka Hospital represents a significant advancement in delivering affordable, specialized healthcare in Shivajinagar. The facility's innovative pricing strategy and comprehensive range of services underscore a commitment to enhancing healthcare equity and establishing a model for future healthcare practices.

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