Karnataka to set up more medical colleges under PPP model: K Sudhakar

"This model is being adopted in Gujarat and the same will be implemented here as well," the Minister was quoted as saying

Karnataka needs more medical colleges to meet the demand for doctors and the government was willing to establish them under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP), said Health and Medical Education Minister Dr K Sudhakar here on Tuesday.

He was speaking to the media after Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa inaugurated the new building of the Atal Behari Vajpayee Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Centre at Shivajinagar here.

"Establishing a medical college requires Rs 600 crore to Rs 700 crore. If it is built under the PPP model, it reduces the burden on the state exchequer and helps to provide affordable medical education and treatment to the needy. This model is being adopted in Gujarat and the same will be implemented here also," said Sudhakar.

As per WHO guidelines, there should be one doctor for every 1,000 population.

"But in our country, there is a doctor for every 10,000-12,000 population. Therefore, there is a necessity to increase the number of medical colleges in order to produce more doctors. The central government has the vision to set up 22 AIIMS in the country, one in each state," said the minister.

"We are committed to bringing AIIMS to our state too. The process of obtaining permission is in progress and soon, there will be an AIIMS functional here. There will be a new health and medical education policy in the state soon," he added.

The Atal Behari Institute of Medical Sciences can take in 150 students for MBBS, the minister said.

"We are increasing the bed capacity of district hospitals, providing better infrastructure and constructing hostel facilities in districts where there are no medical colleges," Sudhakar said.