Govt super-specialty hospital in Belagavi to be now run by private institute

BELAGAVI: The state government has been accused of succumbing to the private hospital lobby after the governement-run super-specialty hospital, inaugurated by former CM Basavaraj Bommai, was handed over to a private institution citing shortage of doctors.

On Wednesday, the director of the Belagavi Institute of Medical Sciences, Dr Ashok Shetty, and representatives of KLE Hospital, signed an agreement wherein the latter will provide doctors at the super-specialty hospital. This triggered speculation that the present government has not been able to allocate funds for the hospital owing to the guarantee schemes.

The super-specialty hospital, which is built on a three-acre campus at Chennamma Circle at a cost of Rs 190 crore, provides quality treatment to the poorer sections. The 290-bed hospital has eight hi-tech operation theatres and 20 general wards. The hospital had not received funds for appointment of doctors or purchasing medical instruments and supplies.