The Centre has selected Bangalore Medical College (BMC) as one of the 13 Medical Colleges in the country to be upgraded to the level of All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi. It has already sanctioned Rs 100 crore for upgrading this prestigious medical institution.

"The Bangalore Medical College would be the first to get this status with Rs 100 crore coming from the Centre and the Karnataka government chipping in with another Rs 20 crore. The Centre has already released Rs 10 crore," Karnataka Medical Education Minister VS Acharaya told Pharmabiz.

The state government has also decided to allocate Rs 285 crore for the speedy completion of the newly sanctioned Medical Colleges at Bidar, Raichur, Mandya, Belgaum, Shimoga and Hassan and had already released Rs 45 crore, the Minister said.

Acharya said three colleges had started functioning and others would follow suit next year. Of the Rs 45 crore released, Hassan Medical College would get Rs 10 crore, Shimoga Medical College would get Rs 15 crore and Medical Colleges at Mandya, Belgaum, Bidar and Raichur would receive Rs 5 crore each.

A decision has also been taken to provide Rs 5 crore and Rs 1 crore for upgrading Hubli Medical College and Bangalore Medical College respectively. Both these institutions will also be celebrating their golden jubilee celebrations in 2008.

The new building of Bowring Hospital constructed by the Bangalore Development Authority would be provided with the latest medical equipment worth Rs 18 crore. The proposed diabetology clinic would be operational by next year.

In the area of Indian systems of medicine, the State government has also drawn up ambitious plans to improve the 72 government Ayurveda, unani and homeopathy colleges in the state. Mysore Ayurveda College which is celebrating its centenary celebrations next year would get Panchakarma treatment block at an expenditure of Rs 9.12 crore. Eight Ayurveda colleges in the state would also get Rs 1 crore each over the next five years. Another Rs 2 crore would be spent for research activities in these colleges, the Minister added.