Seven new medical colleges on the anvil in Karnataka

Full-fledged activities are going on to make them functional from 2013-14 itself, Medical Education Minister S A Ramadass told reporters here after a meeting of the state cabinet.

Each medical college is expected to have 100 seats at the under-graduate level. Medical Council of India is likely to visit these colleges for inspection during January.

The cabinet has also cleared the proposal for upgradation of medical college teaching hospital, Bidar, with financial allocation of Rs 87.50 crore. "With this upgradation, the bed strength of the hospital will increase from 350 to 750," he said.

It is planned to establish tertiary cancer centre in all the nine medical colleges with the aim of providing facilities for early detection and treatment for cancer patients.

"At present the workload in Kidwai Institute of Oncology is very high and many patients may have to wait for longer period for getting appropriate treatment. In addition, poor patients have to travel a long distance to reach this hospital and it is a huge financial burden for them," Ramadass said.

The Union government will give Rs 50 crore and state government has agreed to chip in with Rs 10 crore per institute for the establishment of tertiary cancer centre.