Minister for Medical education Dr Sharan Prakash Patil
Credit: X/@S_PrakashPatil
Bengaluru: Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar’s constituency Kanakapura will not get a government medical college for the 2026-27 academic year too.
The department of medical education has decided not to submit the proposal to the National Medical Commission (NMC), seeking permission to establish a medical college in Kanakapura.
As the infrastructure, mainly the hospital, is not ready, the government has decided not to apply.
However, Minister for Medical education Dr Sharan Prakash Patil said the department would submit applications to set up colleges in Ramanagar (Bengaluru South) and Bagalkot.
“As the hospital in Kanakapura is not ready, we will not be applying. Hospital is the main infrastructure needed to establish a medical college, along with teaching and non-teaching staff,” the minister said.
The proposal to set up colleges in Ramanagar and Kanakapura is on the cards for the last three years and is delayed because of the lack of infrastructure.
In 2023-24, 2024-25, 2025-26, NMC had denied permission to set up colleges at these locations due to lack of infrastructure.
Though the administrative approval was given to set up the college in Kanakapura, it did not take off as there is no hospital. A 220-bed hospital is needed for starting a medical college with 50 seats.
Interestingly, the government has sought funds from Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences (RGUHS) to establish medical colleges in Bagalkot and
Kanakapura.
As per information available from RGUHS, the government has sought Rs 400 crore for the construction of the medical colleges.
As shared by Patil, “As much as 50% of the construction work of RGUHS’ new campus in Ramanagar is completed and the remaining work will be completed in 6-7 months. A 300-bed hospital is also ready. Hence, we have decided to apply for the medical college in Ramanagar”.
The minister said he had instructed all government medical colleges to apply for enhancement of seats by up to 50.
“For 2025-26, NMC sanctioned a total of 450 under-graduate and 421 post-graduate medical seats. I have instructed colleges with good infrastructure to submit proposals to enhance seats,” Patil said.