The Karnataka government has decided to push forward with plans to establish two new government medical colleges in the state this year. It will submit formal proposals to the National Medical Commission (NMC) seeking permission to open colleges in Ramanagara, located in the Bengaluru South district, and in Bagalkot.
Focus on Ramanagara and Bagalkot, Kanakapura Deferred
This move marks a renewed effort for Ramanagara, where previous proposals in the 2023-24, 2024-25, and 2025-26 academic years were rejected by the NMC. The regulatory body had cited inadequate infrastructure and a shortage of faculty as reasons for the rejections. However, Medical Education Minister Dr. Sharan Prakash Patil stated that conditions in Ramanagara have now improved significantly.
"It has been decided to submit proposals for medical colleges in Ramanagara and Bagalkot," the minister confirmed. He highlighted that about 50% of the construction work on the new campus of the Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences (RGUHS) in Ramanagara is complete, with the remainder expected to be finished within six to seven months. The area also has a district hospital with around 300 beds, meeting a key NMC requirement.
In contrast, the proposal for a medical college in Kanakapura has been deferred for now. Minister Patil explained that the area currently faces a shortage of hospital infrastructure. As per NMC norms, a minimum 220-bed hospital is needed to permit 50 seats. The government has floated a tender worth Rs 550 crore to construct a medical college and hospital there, paving the way for a future proposal.
Infrastructure Push and Recruitment Challenges
For the Bagalkot project, the government has already floated a tender to set up the medical college at an estimated cost of Rs 450 crore. Addressing the persistent issue of faculty shortage, the state is undertaking contractual recruitment. However, the minister noted that the high court has issued a stay on new recruitment related to internal reservation, which could pose a challenge.
In a parallel development to boost medical seats, the government has directed all eligible medical colleges in Karnataka to apply for seat enhancement for the next academic year. This follows the NMC's approval last year for an additional 450 undergraduate and 421 postgraduate medical seats across the state.
PPP Model College in Vijayapura Put on Hold
The state cabinet has also decided to put on hold a proposed public-private partnership (PPP) model medical college in Vijayapura. Minister Patil mentioned that the previous government had planned eight such PPP medical colleges and had submitted project reports for locations including Vijayapura and Kolar.
"However, there was public opposition to the model, and we have therefore decided to keep it on hold," he said. The government's current focus, he emphasized, remains on achieving universal health care coverage by addressing infrastructure gaps across Karnataka.
This strategic push for new government medical colleges underscores the state's commitment to expanding public medical education and improving healthcare infrastructure, while navigating regulatory hurdles and public sentiment.
