‘Tie–up with private medical colleges to ensure better service at three government healthcare centres in Mangaluru’

Karnataka government partners with private medical colleges to enhance healthcare services at four government centres in Mangaluru.

The government of Karnataka will enter into a tie-up with Yenepoya Medical College, Alva’s Medical College, and AJ Institute of Medical Sciences to provide basic healthcare and specialist healthcare services at the Bantwal Taluk Hospital, Belthangady Taluk Hospital, Moodbidri Community Health Centre (CHC), and the Vitla CHC.

Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a function at the Government Lady Goschen Hospital in Mangaluru on April 10, Health and Family Welfare Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao informed that the tie-up will be similar to the one between KMC Hospital Mangaluru and Government Wenlock Hospital.

He brushed aside criticism by DYFI that such a tie-up will be akin to government bowing to the lobby of private medical colleges.

“There will be no monetary aspect in the tie-up (between the three private medical colleges and four government healthcare centres). Specialists of the private medical colleges and their health services will be available at the four government healthcare centres. Our patients will go to the three private medical college hospitals only during emergencies. Private medical college doctors will provide all health services at the four government healthcare centres,” he said.

The Health Department and Medical Education Department are asking all private medical colleges in Karnataka to have a tie-up with the the local government healthcare centres. “This will not only help the private medical colleges, but this was a norm prescribed under the National Medical Commission guidelines. Doctors from private medical colleges will have more patients at the government healthcare centres, whose healthcare services will greatly improve with the tie-up,” he said.

Siddhartha Medical College in Tumakuru is keen on tie-up with Tumakuru District Hospital and a taluk hospital, the Minister said.