The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Rs. 147 crore set aside for upgrading BMC: Kumaraswamy

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Jul 29, 2006

Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Rs. 147 crore set aside for upgrading BMC: Kumaraswamy

Staff Reporter

`This sum is apart from the Rs. 100 crore promised by the Centre'

HELPING PATIENTS: Chairperson of Infosys Foundation Sudha Murthy, Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy and Minister for Medical Education V.S. Acharya at the inauguration of the Infosys-funded Central laboratory at Victoria Hospital in Bangalore on Friday . — Photo: K. Murali Kumar

Bangalore: The State Government had earmarked Rs. 147 crore for upgrading the Bangalore Medical College (BMC) and the five hospitals attached to it and work on this project would start shortly, Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy said here on Friday.

Speaking after inaugurating the 24-hour Infosys-funded Central laboratory at Victoria Hospital here, Mr. Kumaraswamy said he had held discussions with the Public Works Department and officials concerned on the execution of the project.

This fund from the State was apart from the Rs. 100 crore promised by the Centre to upgrade the BMC and the hospitals attached to it to the standards of the All-India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Delhi.

The Government was committed to improving the facilities in government hospitals here, especially Victoria and Bowring and Lady Curzon Hospitals, so that the poor could have access to the most modern facilities.

Referring to the Yeshaswini insurance scheme, Mr. Kumaraswamy said there were some loopholes in the scheme, which needed to be plugged and discussions were being held to bring out this scheme in a better way so that it could benefit the marginalised sections.

Diseases such as cancer and kidney failure would also be covered under this insurance scheme, he said.

The Chief Minister assured that the vacant posts in government departments, including posts in government hospitals, would be filled this year. Doctors and nurses in government hospitals should be compassionate and considerate to the poor patients who come there and they should not be harassed. About the Infosys funded Central laboratory building, he said the Government had sanctioned Rs. 2.5 crore for purchase of equipment for the laboratory. Sudha Murthy, chairperson of Infosys Foundation, said the Central laboratory had been envisioned keeping in mind the convenience of the patients. Well-known medical practitioner M. Maiya was felicitated by the Chief Minister on the occasion.

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