Mangaluru : Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramiah said there is a need for a government medical college each in Mangaluru and Udupi. But he did not state whether the government intends to set up colleges in the two coastal cities.

Speaking at a function organised to lay the foundation stone for the regional centre of Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences (RGUHS) in Mangaluru, Mr. Siddaramaiah said, “As Finance Minister during 1994-99, I had initiated the process of setting up a government medical college and a government hospital in every district. Not all districts have government medical colleges and hospitals.”

Government medical colleges have not been set up in Mangaluru and Udupi as both the cities have good number of private medical colleges.

“But there is a need for government medical colleges in Mangaluru and Udupi,” Mr. Siddaramaiah said. “Those (doctors) who know what poverty is and what hunger is, can respond in a better way to the needs of poor patients,” he said.

Reiterating the State Government’s commitment to provide quality health care to the seven crore population in Karnataka, he said as many as 365 super speciality government hospitals have been set up so far in the State.

Referring to how poor are burdened with increasing healthcare costs, the Chief Minister said he has been getting claims ranging between Rs.25 lakh and Rs.40 lakh from poor patients seeking reimbursement of treatment expenses through the CM’s Relief Fund.

Mr. Siddaramaiah has asked the Institute of Nephro Urology and Jayadeva Institute of Cardiology to provide free treatment to BPL card holders. “More government hospitals should do liver and kidney transplants.”

Referring to the waiting list of over 5,000 persons for kidney transplant, he said people are facing problem in getting organs. In a month’s time, the government will put in place a system that will help the needy get organs on time.

Medical Education and Skill Development Minister Sharan Prakash Patil said the RGUHS regional centres coming up in Mangaluru and four other places in the State will act as centres to improve skills of medical students. “The government is committed to impart skills to make youth employable. So far, two lakh youth have registered in Yuva Nidhi scheme for providing employment allowance and skill training,” the Minister said.

RGUHS Vice-Chancellor M.K. Ramesh and Karnataka Legislative Assembly Speaker U.T. Khader also addressed the gathering.