Karnataka health assessment urges 10 percent budget allocation, filling of vacancies

Bengaluru: A recent assessment in Karnataka has flagged the urgent need for increased public spending, recruitment, and expansion of primary healthcare facilities to meet the growing disease burden in the state.

The assessment examined the condition of Health Sub-Centres (HSCs), Primary Health Centres (PHCs), Community Health Centres (CHCs), and general hospitals across selected districts. It emphasised that underserved regions require both infrastructure strengthening and adequate human resources if public healthcare delivery is to improve in a meaningful way.

According to a report by The Hindu, the findings are based on a study prepared by the Health for All Forum in Karnataka using data obtained under the Right to Information Act, 2005. The report analyses the status of public health facilities and places its recommendations within the broader framework of the Karnataka State Integrated Health Policy, which envisions increased public spending and equitable access to quality healthcare.

Among its key recommendations, the forum has urged the state government to increase health expenditure to 10% of the total Budget. It has also called for strengthening primary healthcare services and sanctioning new facilities in line with Indian Public Health Standards (IPHS) norms and updated population estimates.

The report further highlighted the shortage of permanent staff and recommended a statewide recruitment drive to fill all sanctioned posts permanently and reduce dependence on contractual appointments.  

The findings have mentioned the rising cases of communicable and non-communicable diseases in the state and how it is burdening the inadequate health infrastructure of the state. In Yadgir district, for instance, the number of hypertension cases treated at public facilities more than doubled between 2021-22 and 2024-25. During the same period, diabetes cases increased by over 50%, underscoring the mounting pressure on primary and secondary care systems.

The report highlighted what many public sector doctors already experience. It states that without adequate funding, filled vacancies and infrastructure expansion aligned with IPHS norms, the goal of equitable and quality healthcare remains difficult to achieve.