Karnataka government will soon allocate around Rs 50 crore for expansion and upgrading of its four government medical colleges. The state is also planning to set up one more medical college in Bangalore to bridge the gap between the patients and doctors to improve the inadequate medical services. State authorities will discuss the matter during early September.

According to a study conducted by the State medical education department between 2005 April 2005 and March 2006, three lakh out patients and over 80,000 in patients had accessed the government hospitals with a total bed strength of 2,990 at the Victoria Hospital, Bowring & Lady Curzon, Minto Ophthalmic and Government Dental College.

Every year 450 medical graduates qualify out of the four government medical colleges in the State located at Bangalore, Mysore, Hubli and Bellary. Of these Bangalore Medical College accounts for 150 graduates. From this academic year, the Medical Council of India has granted permission for two more medical colleges with 100 seats each.

Going by the increasing number of patients and the state emerging as a hub for medical tourism opportunities there is a growing need for medical colleges in Bangalore and it is crucial for the government to look at the possibility of an add on, stated the chief minister.

The state government recently funded the first phase of construction of the new block for Bowring and Lady Curzon Hospital in Bangalore for a 387 bed facility which is a nine storey complex coming up within the premises of the old hospital located in Bangalore at Shivajinagar. This will include facilities like hi-tech kitchen, laundry, and wards for women apart from offering surgical specialties like orthopedics and urology. The plan also consists of expanding other existing buildings like the wards, residential quarters for Chief medical officers, Resident medical officers, professors, doctors and hostels for medical students.