Mangalore :  Dr. B. Shantharam Baliga, Professor & Head of the Department of Pediatrics, KMC, Mangalore,  has been nominated to the Governing Body of the  Karnataka State Health System Resource Centre (KSHSRC) by the Government of Karnataka. KSHSRC is an autonomous and independent body established under the umbrella of National Rural Health Mission (NHRM) for advising the Government of Karnataka on technical aspects for improving the Health & Family Welfare Services and also as a facilitating agency for civil society action.

Dr Baliga, through the Medical Relief Society  has been offering voluntary medical services in government hospitals and has been
instrumental in facilitating development of advanced tertiary care facilities in government hospitals.

He played a key role in setting up of  the first Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) at Government Wenlock Hospital,  and also the full-fledged Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Lady Goschen Hospital. He also played a crucial role in setting up of the  Regional Advanced Pediatric Care Centre at Wenlock Hospital. The  Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Mangalore Nursing Home, the first such unit in a private hospital, was opened in 1989 under his supervision.

Dr Baliga is  associated with several NGOs for promoting children’s welfare including Child Line and Nirmala Welfare Society (Child Adoption).