Medical Education Minister Sharan Prakash Patil during he inauguration of the 35th Annual State Conference of KACHCON-2025 at Gulbarga Institute of Medical Sciences in Kalaburagi on Friday.
| Photo Credit: ARUN KULKARNI
The State is committed to strengthening its public healthcare system and ensuring quality medical services for every citizen, Minister for Medical Education, Skill Development, Entrepreneurship and Livelihood Dr. Sharan Prakash Patil said on Friday.
Speaking after inaugurating the 35th Annual State Conference of KACHCON-2025 at the Gulbarga Institute of Medical Sciences (GIMS) in Kalaburagi, Dr. Patil said that doctors and medical staff have a vital role in building a healthy society through dedicated and ethical service.
Strengthening community-based health institutions and promoting positive thinking within the medical profession remained key priorities, he added.
The Minister said that 22 medical colleges have already been established across the State during the present government’s tenure, while three more are in progress, taking the total to 25 medical colleges in the State.
He announced that Kalaburagi will soon receive a second superspeciality hospital on the lines of the Indira Gandhi Children’s Hospital in Bengaluru, along with more advanced facilities to benefit people of the region.
“My earlier tenure as Medical Education Minister enabled me to take a long-term view of Kalaburagi’s health needs. As a result, the city today has four premier government hospitals, GIMS, Sri Jayadeva Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences and Research, the Trauma Care Centre and the ESI Hospital – all of which are providing high-quality care, especially to poor patients,” he said.
The Minister said that efforts are under way to develop Kalaburagi as a health hub of Kalyana Karnataka and surrounding areas by developing and expanding healthcare infrastructure.
“Work on upgrading Kidwai Cancer Hospital into a Regional Care Centre is progressing and the State government is exploring the establishment of a NIMHANS-like institution in Kalaburagi. People from this region should not have to travel to Hyderabad or Solapur for advanced health care. All major health facilities must be available within the district and the cooperation of every health worker is essential to achieve this,” he said.
Referring to the challenges posed by climate-related diseases, Dr. Patil said that the medical community must stay alert to emerging threats such as malaria, dengue and chikungunya.
He also recalled that the implementation of Article 371(J), achieved through the efforts of AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge, has enabled thousands of students from the region to secure medical seats.
GIMS principal Gururaj N.A. lauded the efforts of postgraduate students and faculty for their meticulous planning and execution of the event.
Delivering the keynote address, Anand Krishnan of the Centre for Community Medicine, AIIMS, New Delhi, urged physicians to remain vigilant and proactive in diagnosing and treating vector-borne diseases.
During the conference, KACH awards were presented to achievers in the field of public health and community medicine. The recipients included Dr. Shailaja Patil (Excellence in Public Health), Dr. Mohammed Waseem Faraz Ansari (KACH Young Scientist Award), Dr. Vani H. Chalageri (Best Young Community Health Professional Award), Dr. Ashwini Kumar (KACH Literary Award, received on behalf of Dr. Chitra Rao), and several others.
As many as 11 individuals were honoured for their contributions to public health services.
District Health and Family Welfare Officer Sharanabasappa Kyatanal, GIMS Director Umesh S.R., Medical Superintendent Shivakumar C. R., KACH president Ajay Kumar and other senior faculty members, organisers and staff were present.
Published – November 21, 2025 07:38 pm IST
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