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

Karnataka's 2026 Budget emphasizes maternal health improvements, infrastructure upgrades, and advancements in 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.

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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.

Ante-natal and post-natal 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 underway.

Cardiac emergency management under the ST-Elevated Myocardial Infarction (STEMI) programme has 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.