Karnataka Budget 2025: Healthcare Upgrades, medical education boost, Here are the Highlights

Bengaluru: Karnataka is set for a major healthcare overhaul as Chief Minister Siddaramaiah announced the establishment of three new medical colleges in Bagalkot, Kolar, and Puttur while presenting the Health Budget 2025. The budget emphasizes infrastructural expansion, including the construction of state-of-the-art hospitals, modular operation theatres, and specialized healthcare facilities across the state. With Rs 873 crore allocated for healthcare development in Kalyana Karnataka and ₹320 crore earmarked for maternal mortality prevention, the state aims to strengthen medical education and improve access to quality healthcare services.

The intake capacity for the MBBS seats is going to be increased in the State of Karnataka as three new medical colleges are going to be set up in Bagalkot, Kolar and Puttur, stated the Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah who presented the 16th Budget which among many announcements focused on infrastructural development, the establishment of new medical colleges, and expansion of the medical education sector.

The key takeaways from the Karnataka Health Budget 2025 are as follows:

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Development of Healthcare infrastructure:

The 2025 Budget focused on several infrastructural developments in the healthcare sector. As per the latest media report by Udayavani, the infrastructural development announced under the new budget are as follows:

(1) 114 modular operation theatres are getting installed at the cost of Rs 177 crore.

(2) 64 anaesthesia workstations are being set up for Rs 34 crore.

(3) The State also plans to set up a state-of-the-art cardiac unit with a Cathlab at Gadag Medical College for Rs 10 crore.

(4) In Kalaburgi, the State has announced to set up a Mother and Child Hospital for Rs 92 crore.

(5) Plans are also underway to develop Jayadeva Cardiology Hospital in Kalaburgi by investing Rs 304 crore.

(6) It also mentioned that the Nephro-Urology Institute in Bengaluru will be built for Rs 26 crore. It will be completed and opened to the public.

(7) Rs 320 crore has been allocated to prevent maternal mortality in the State.

(8) Announcement for constructing a state-of-the-art and well equipped 200 bedded hospital at a cost of Rs 150 crore in Bengaluru North Taluk has also been made.

(9) As per Deccan Chronicle, the PHCs of the newly announced taluks of Hanur, Alanavar, Annigeri, Maski, Sirivar, Kapu, Babaleshwar, Kolhar, Cheluru and Terdal will be upgraded to Community Health Centres. A new CHC will be established in Ponnampet. Further it has been announced that the Taluka Hospitals in Maluru, Magadi, Kushalanagar, Koratagere, Jagaluru, Savanuru, Ramadurga and Savadatti and district hospital in Davangere and Wenlock Hospital in Mangaluru will be renovated for Rs 650 crore.

(10) As per the announcements, a 200-bedded hospital will be established at Molakalmuru in Chitradurga district and a 400-bedded hospital will be established at Virajapete in Kodagu district.

(11) Other announcements include upgrading the Community Health Centre at Tadaguru in Mysuru District to a 100-bedded hospital, renovation of District and Taluk Hospitals at a cost of Rs 183 crore in a phased manner,

(12) Several initiaves will be undertaken at the cost of Rs 873 crore in Kalyana Karnataka region under the Kalyana Karnataka Comprehensive Health Scheme for providing quality health services, improving health indicators and strengthening health systems

(13) Announcement has also been made for providing cashless treatment up to a cost of Rs 5 lakh to more than 3 lakh employees and their dependents working in different government departments on contract, outsourced and on honorarium basis through Suvarna Arogya Suraksha Trust with a monthly contribution of Rs 100 from employees and Rs 200 from the government.

Establishment of New Medical Colleges and Hospitals:

(1) As per the Budget announcement, the State has announced to set up a Medical College under the Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences (RGUHS).

(2) It has also been announced to develop a new medical college in Kolar under the Public-Private-Partnership (PPP) model.

(3) The Budget also announced setting up a cancer diagnosis unit at Bidar Government Medical College and Hospital.

(4) It has also been mentioned in the Budget that a 500-bed hospital at Bowring and Lady Curzon Hospital is nearing completion at a cost of Rs 297 crore.

Expansion of Medical Education:

Expansion of the medical education sector has also been announced in the Karnataka Budget 2025. The announcements made in this regard are as follows:

(1) The Budget announced that Allied Health Science courses will be introduced in 22 medical colleges across Karnataka.

(2) The establishment of well-equipped trauma care centres at Kulgari Cross in Badami and Chitradurga has also been announced.

(3) Further, the budget announced the development of Regional Endocrinology Centres at Mysuru and Kalaburgi medical colleges with an investment of Rs 100 crore.

(4) Institutions similar to NIMHANS will be set up in Mysuru and Kalaburagi, each with a Rs 100 crore investment.

(5) It has also been announced that a super-speciality hospital will be established under Koppal Institute of Medical Sciences for Rs 100 crore.

(6) The Budget also announced that a Kidwai Peripheral Cancer Treatment Unit will be set up at Rajiv Gandhi Super Speciality Hospital in Raichur for Rs 50 crore.

(7) Announcement for opening new nursing colleges in Yalburga, Jevargi and Yadgir for Rs 6 crore for each from KKRDB funds has also been made.

(8) Planning for a new medical college in Puttur is also underway, with the existing 100-bed taluka hospital set to be upgraded in the current financial year.

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