Foundation stone laid for cancer hospital in Shivamogga

The Kidwai model cancer hospital in Shivamogga will help people in Shivamogga and neighbouring districts in the Malnad region, said Dr. Sharanaprakash Patil, Minister for Medical Education.

He spoke after laying the foundation stone for the construction of a cancer hospital on the premises of McGann Hospital in Shivamogga on November 11.

The State government has provided ₹50 crore for a 120-bed hospital. The hospital would have chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and other facilities necessary for cancer treatment, the Minister said.

Karnataka has 70 medical colleges including 25 government colleges. The government has been making efforts to build one medical college each in all districts. Similarly, decisions have been taken to build cancer hospitals in Tumakuru, Mandya, and Mysuru, besides Shivamogga. In the next five years, every government medical college will have a cancer hospital, Mr. Patil said.

Minister for School Education and Literacy Madhu Bangarappa, who is also Minister in charge of Shivamogga, said the construction of the hospital would be completed in a short period of time. Once the hospital was upgraded completely, people from Shivamogga and the neighbouring district would not have to travel to Mangaluru for treatment.

MLAs Belur Gopalakrishna, B.K. Sangameshwara, Dr. R. Selvamani, DC; Snehal Sudhakar Lokhande, ZP CEO; G.K. Mithun Kumar, SP; and others were present at the programme.