By The Hindu Bureau
Copyright thehindu
Karnataka’s Minister for Health and Family Welfare Dinesh Gundu Rao said in Kodagu that Virajpet Government Hospital will be upgraded into a District Hospital, Hudikeri Primary Health Centre into a Community Health Centre, and Kushalnagar Community Health Centre into a Taluk Hospital.
Speaking to reporters after inspecting Virajpet Government Hospital and Hudikeri PHC in Kodagu district, the Minister recalled that this year’s budget had proposed the upgradation of Virajpet Hospital. The government had proposed to upgrade Ponnampet and Kushalnagar CHCs into Taluk Hospitals. Kushalnagar will soon get a Taluk Hospital while Hudikeri PHC will be upgraded into a CHC, he said.
A 400-bed hospital had been proposed for Virajpet, but a 250-bed facility is currently under construction, along with residential quarters for doctors and nurses. Around ₹105 crore will be spent to upgrade Virajpet Hospital into a District Hospital, he informed.
The Minister further informed that Hudikeri PHC will be upgraded into a 30-bed CHC at a cost of ₹6 crore, while the upgradation of Kushalnagar into a Taluk Hospital will cost around ₹40 crore.
Construction of residential quarters and other related works will be taken up after a discussion in the Cabinet, with tenders likely to be invited next week. The foundation stone for the upgraded facilities at Virajpet, Hudikeri, and Kushalnagar will be laid in November or December, he added.
The Minister said, “Thanks to the efforts of MLA A. S. Ponnanna, the government is extending full support for the development of hospitals in Virajpet constituency. Since I too belong to this district, I am committed to Kodagu’s development.”
MLA and CM’s Legal Advisor A.S. Ponnanna, in his address, recalled that the promise to upgrade Virajpet Hospital into a District Hospital had been made during the elections.
“That assurance is now being fulfilled. Similarly, Hudikeri PHC will be upgraded into a CHC. In our manifesto, we had also committed to upgrading a Taluk Hospital into a District Hospital. The CM and Minister have responded positively, and I thank the government,” he said.
Later, the Minister visited Virajpet Hospital, interacted with patients, inspected the ICU and other departments, and instructed doctors to provide quality healthcare to the poor.
He also inspected the proposed sites at Virajpet, Hudikeri, and Kushalnagar, before visiting the Alur-Siddapur PHC.
