450-bed high-tech hospital to come up on RGUHS campus in Ramanagara

The government of Karnataka has decided to establish a 450-bed high-tech hospital for clinical practice on the newly-constructed Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences (RGUHS) campus in Ramanagara at a cost of about ₹150 crore, as per the original plan.

“Officials have been instructed to prepare a Detailed Project Report (DPR) for construction of a 450-bed high-tech hospital during the second phase of work at the new RGUHS campus,” Medical Education Minister Sharan Prakash Patil told The Hindu.

Construction is underway

Construction of the new RGUHS campus near Archakara Halli at Ramanagara is in full swing at a cost of about ₹600 crore.

According to the Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences Act-1994 (as amended by Act 20 of 2007), it was proposed to construct the campus along with medical, dental, pharmacy, nursing colleges and a health complex with 250-bed super-specialty hospital and 750-bed hi-tech hospital, and other allied buildings.

Meanwhile, the government of Karnataka has decided to start a new medical college in Ramanagara. It has submitted a request for the same to the National Medical Commission (NMC).

MP objects

However, C.N. Manjunath, member of Parliament, Bengaluru Rural Lok Sabha constituency, has raised some objections and has sought clarifications from the Vice-Chancellor of RGUHS.

“It is learnt that, at present, only the administrative block and medical college buildings are under construction at an approximate cost of ₹600 crore, fully funded by the university. While this is a welcome step, it is difficult to understand why construction of a hospital within the campus has not been included in the scope of the proposed work. The establishment of a fully functional 650-bed hospital is, however, an indispensable requirement for any medical college, both from an academic and public healthcare perspective, as well as for convenience and for National Medical Commission (NMC) recognition,” he wrote to the V-C.

Further, he wrote, Ramanagara, being a district headquarters, urgently requires a 650-bed hospital attached to the medical college. This would not only fulfil the requirements of the Medical Council of India/National Medical Commission for clinical training, but also significantly strengthen secondary and tertiary healthcare services for the people of the district and the surrounding rural areas. The existing district hospital at Ramanagara has a capacity of 250 beds and is located approximately three kilometres away from the medical college campus, he stated.

Original project had proposal for a high-tech hospital

The Medical Education Department has now decided to construct a high-tech hospital on the RGUHS campus as per the original plan.

“The original project had a proposal for a high-tech hospital. However, there was no plan to construct a hospital during the first phase of work. Other work, including the administration block and college building, is underway. The construction of a high-tech hospital has been considered during the second phase of work. After authorities submit the DPR, the project will be implemented after discussing with the government,” said Dr. Patil.