Karnataka government has granted an initial amount of Rs 5 crore out of the Rs.17 crore for setting up the Institute of Nephro-Urology in the Victoria Hospital campus. The Institute of Nephro-Urology will be a state-of-the-art facility funded by the government.
The construction is expected within four weeks and would start functioning by August next year. The super specialty centre would be developed in phases over a two-year period. This Institute is a part of the government health policy initiatives to treat the poor with illness pertaining to heart, kidney and cancer.
The new Institute would function as an autonomous body at the Victoria Hospital. The Institute will aim at detecting kidney diseases early, managing and treating ailments. The facility would be equipped with dialysis machines and units for renal transplantation.
The autonomous centre which will be administered by a governing body headed by either the Chief Minister of Karnataka or the Minister for Medical Education to prevent and control rackets in kidney transplantation.
In India, it is estimated that around two lakh patients succumb to renal diseases. "Many people cannot afford the treatment even at a chronic stage of the disease. Even schemes like the government run Yeshaswini health insurance has not benefited the people," stated Karnataka chief minister HD Kumaraswamy at the foundation stone ceremony for the up gradation programme for the Victoria Hospital.
As apart of the healthcare plans, the state government has also issued a list of private hospitals like the Bhagwan Mahaveer Jain Hospital and Sagar Apollo to be included in the Yeshaswini Cooperative Farmers Health Care Trust.
With regards to heart and cancer, the State government has already identified Jayadeva Institute of Cardiology and the Kidwai Memorial Institute of Oncology for free treatment.
Victoria Hospital received Rs 48 crore out of the total Rs 120 crore grant from the Union government. This Rs 48 crore will be utilized to update the hospital and renovate the existing structures.