Karnataka government’s Infrastructure Development Department (IDD) has chipped in Rs.80 core to upgrade the Vijaynagar Institute of Medical Sciences (VIMS), Bellary.
The total cost of the 400 bed multi super speciality hospital is Rs.130 crore. The government initially chipped in Rs.62 crore and then pumped in another Rs.18 crore. It has commenced the construction of the facility on 23 acres land and the hospital is a first of its kind between Hyderabad-Bangalore region.
VIMS is a leading government medical college and hospital located in Bellary in north Karnataka which is celebrating its golden jubilee this year. The business model for the multi speciality facility evolves around public private partnership and is envisaged for upgradation as a centre of excellence.
The new hospital attached to the medical college is being envisaged on similar lines that of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi. The facility will provide the much needed relief for scores of patients in the region who travel to either Bangalore or Hyderabad which are almost 300 kilometers away for treatment, Dr B Devanand, director VIMS told Pharmabiz.
The construction of the building has begun with an architect appointed from Mumbai and is expected to be ready within 24 months. “We are now looking for a private public partnership where the partner will invest in the remaining Rs.50 crore for equipment and manpower,” he added.
Of the two leading corporate hospital majors which have enough muscle to take on such projects: Fortis and Apollo Group were considered. While the former is already engaged with the 350-bed, OPEC assisted Raichur-based Rajiv Gandhi Memorial Hospital, in a joint venture with the State Government, the latter had expressed its intention. “But now the government is floating a tender to scout for a promising partner in all earnestness. The selection of the partner would be finalized by the month end,” stated Dr Devanand.
The new hospital will offer specialities like Cardiac, Nephrology, Comprehensive Cancer Treatments covering Medical, Surgical and Radiation Therapy, Gastroenterology, Endocrinology and Burns units besides an expanded Paediatric, Plastic and Neuro-surgery departments.
VIMS was founded as a district hospital by the erstwhile Vijayanagar kings in 1713. It also started the first tuberculosis sanatorium in south India which catered to patients from across southern states. In 1900, as part of Madras province under British rule, the hospital emerged as a hub for medical treatments. In 1961, the main medical centre was shifted to its current location, near the Alipore Jail for freedom fighters to be able to access healthcare facilities.
In 1996, VIMS became an autonomous medical college. Once the Greenfield super speciality hospital is commissioned it will gear up to offer Post Graduation courses. Old students, who had done their MBBS here, and specialized in these departments, have been called back to serve the at the medical college and hospital and response has been positive with as they are now appointed as experts Cardiac, Nephrology, Radiation Therapy departments.