Bangalore: Veteran actor and Housing Minister M H Ambarish, who had been admitted to Vikram Hospital in the City for the past one week, was be shifted to Singapore on early Saturday morning for further treatment.

According to sources in Vikram Hospital and sources close to Ambarish, he was airlifted to Singapore at 3.30 am on Saturday. Minister for Health and Family Welfare U T Khader had sought the Union government’s opinion about shifting Ambarish to a Singapore hospital.

Tamil superstar Rajnikanth who visited Ambarish on Friday had advised Sumalatha Ambarish to shift him to Singapore.

On Home Minister K J George’s request, Union Health Minister Gulam Nabi Azad had directed Dr Randeep Guleria from AIIMS, New Delhi, to assess the health of Ambarish. Dr Randeep reached Vikram Hospital on Friday morning and addressed the media after evaluating the actor-minister.

He said: “All his vital organs like lungs, kidneys and heart are functioning well. However, the weaning of ventilation will take some time.” He added that the family would take a call on moving him out. “At the moment there is no need to shift him to Singapore. It all depends on the discretion of the family,” he added.

The condition of 61-year-old Ambarish is said to be improving. His level of consciousness and hemodynamics are improving. His ventilator parameters are stable and the process of weaning is being continued, according to Vikram Hospital doctors.

“His condition is being continuously monitored by a team of doctors, in consultation with experts,” they added.