Karnataka Budget 2026 focuses on maternal health, infrastructure upgrade and digital health systems

The Karnataka government has announced a series of initiatives in the health sector in the 2026–27 budget, focusing on reducing maternal deaths, strengthening hospital infrastructure, expanding specialised care and improving digital health systems.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said the ‘Mission Zero Preventable Maternal Death Initiative’, launched in 2025, has resulted in a 24% reduction in Maternal Mortality Rate (MMR). Under the programme, every maternal death is being reviewed by an expert technical committee to identify gaps in care and improve services.

Antenatal and postnatal care services are being strengthened while maternity hospitals are being provided with additional staff, guidance and modern equipment.

Under the Anaemia Muktha Poushtika Karnataka programme, 52 lakh school and college students have been screened for anaemia. Of these, 11.7 lakh children were diagnosed and provided free treatment, and 3.7 lakh have fully recovered, while treatment and follow-up for the remaining children is continuing.

Expansion of STEMI programme

Cardiac emergency management under the ST-Elevated Myocardial Infarction (STEMI) programme has also expanded. The Chief Minister said 9.4 lakh ECGs have been conducted so far, leading to the identification of 13,933 patients with acute myocardial infarction, of whom 7,668 have received treatment.

The government will also step up investment in healthcare infrastructure. Construction works of Primary Health Centres (PHCs), Community Health Centres (CHCs) and taluk hospitals taken up over the past three years will be fast-tracked and dedicated to public use. A sum of ₹900 crore has been allocated in the current financial year for infrastructure development in the Health Department.

To strengthen emergency and trauma care, casualty departments, operation theatres and intensive care units in district and taluk hospitals will be upgraded in phases with modern medical equipment. ₹45 crore has been earmarked for this purpose.

AB-ArK package rates to be revised

The existing 2018 treatment package rates under the Ayushman Bharat - Arogya Karnataka (AB-ArK) scheme will be revised by adopting Health Benefit Package (HBP)-2022 package rates, with an additional ₹400 crore allocation. This would help ensure better access to quality treatment for economically weaker sections. The scheme will be implemented through convergence of funds under Yashasvini Scheme, Karnataka Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Board (BoCW) and Employees’ State Insurance (ESI).

The government will expand services for vulnerable groups. Nutrition Rehabilitation Centres (NRCs), currently functioning in 86 taluks, will be extended to the remaining 63 taluks to treat children suffering from Severe Acute Malnutrition, with ₹6 crore allocated.

Essential medicines for low birth weight and sick newborns and comprehensive newborn and antenatal care services will be strengthened with an allocation of ₹10 crore. In addition, free insulin pens will be provided to all children up to 18 years with Type-1 diabetes.

Regional healthcare

Special focus will also be given to regional healthcare needs. Funds under the KKRDB Annual Local Plan will prioritise strengthening health services in the Kalyana Karnataka region, while comprehensive healthcare services will be extended to mining-affected districts of Ballari, Vijayanagara, Chitradurga and Tumakuru under KMERC funding.

Home-based palliative care 

The Budget also proposes to introduce home-based palliative care services on the lines of Kerala model, in collaboration with Pallium India, for patients suffering from chronic and terminal illnesses.

Dialysis services will be expanded by upgrading 50 high-demand dialysis centres to 150-bed capacity, enabling 1.35 lakh dialysis procedures annually. ₹20 crore has been allocated for the initiative.

Among other announcements, Mayakonda Primary Health Centre in Davanagere taluk will be upgraded to a Community Health Centre, while a Public Health Cadre will be implemented in phases to ensure greater objectivity in the appointment of District Health Officers, District Surgeons and other administrative posts.

Digitisation

Under the Digital Health Programme, the government plans to digitise registers maintained by health staff through the Samasta mobile application, introduce computerised patient registration and digital health records, enable UPI-based payments in government health centres, and establish teleradiology and “smart” digital labour rooms across institutions.

The government also said the ISKCON food supply model will be extended to select district and taluk hospitals, and Panchakarma units will be set up in selected AYUSH hospitals on a self-sustaining model.

To strengthen manpower, the Health Department plans to fill 2,500 vacant posts in the coming year.