Date:11/08/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/08/11/stories/2006081115520400.htm

Karnataka - Bangalore

Institute for treating kidney diseases to be established

Staff Reporter

Work on the Rs. 5-crore project will begin in Bangalore in 45 days: Kumaraswamy

BETTER FACILITIES: Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy (left), Deputy Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa (right) and Health Minister R. Ashok at the foundation stone-laying ceremony for the new block at Victoria Hospital in Bangalore on Thursday. — P hoto: Sampath Kumar G.P.

BANGALORE: An institute for treating kidney diseases will come up at Victoria Hospital in Bangalore shortly, Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy said on Thursday.

Laying the foundation stone of a new hospital block at Victoria Hospital, Mr. Kumaraswamy said the institute would provide low-cost treatment for persons with kidney diseases. At present most treatment options, including dialysis, were very expensive. The institute would come up at a cost of Rs. 5 crore and work on it would start within 45 days, he said.

Health insurance

The Chief Minister said that the Yeshasvini health insurance scheme for farmers would be revamped to cover more diseases and procedures. "Yeshasvini is going to be revamped because we have found that it is not very successful among farmers right now."

Deputy Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa said that the Government had kept aside a substantial allocation for health in the budget.

New hospital buildings

Minister for Public Works H.D. Revanna said his department was allocating Rs. 120 crore for the construction of new buildings in Victoria Hospital and Bowring and Lady Curzon Hospital. Victoria Hospital alone would get Rs. 48 crore. He said the work would be tendered from Friday.

With the funds the hospital would get a new out-patient block and waste disposal and water purification system. An out-patient ward would also be constructed at Vanivilas Hospital and a second floor would be constructed over the dissection hall at Bangalore Medical College.

Bus stand

Minister for Wakf B.Z. Zameer Ahmed Khan complained to the Chief Minister that although tenders for improving the Kalasipalyam bus stand were issued two years ago, no action had been taken.