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Karnataka government in its Budget 2026-27 has allocated Rs. 17,473.4 crore for the health and family welfare sector. The state will introduce a pioneering policy focused on preventing and treating burn injuries among women, a first-of-its-kind initiative in the country.
The focus is on strengthening healthcare infrastructure to provide ease of access to medical care and reduce preventable maternal mortality. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah presenting his record 17th Budget said, “We believe that a healthy population is prerequisite for building an equal society. We are committed to ensure quality health services from birth to all age groups without discrimination at affordable rates. It is our resolve to reduce preventable maternal mortality rate to zero”.
To this end, Rs. 320 crore has been provided for strengthening obstetric services by equipping hospitals with all necessary equipment to treat and prevent severe postpartum haemorrhage by leveraging novel digital technology. Maternal child health (MCH) specialists will be deputed in every taluka hospital through re-deployment of posts.
With an objective of developing health infrastructure, a state-of-the-art and well equipped 200 bedded hospital will be constructed at a cost of Rs. 150 crore in Bengaluru. Wenlock Hospital in Mangaluru will be renovated at a cost of Rs. 650 crore.
District and Taluk hospitals which require extensive repairs will be renovated at a cost of Rs. 183 crore in a phased manner. To provide quality health services, to improve the health indicators and strengthen health systems in Kalyana Karnataka region under the Kalyana Karnataka Comprehensive Health Scheme several initiatives have been undertaken at the cost of Rs. 873 crore.
Cashless treatment up to a cost of Rs. 5 lakh will be provided to more than 3 lakh employees and their dependents working in different government departments on contract, outsourced and on honorarium basis through Suvarna Arogya Suraksha Trust with a monthly contribution of Rs. 100 from the employees and Rs. 200 from the government.
A programme to diagnose rare metabolic disorders in the pre-natal and infants will be implemented on pilot basis in the first stage in Kalyana Karnataka and mining-affected areas at a cost of Rs. 10 crore.
In order to prevent cervical cancer in women, a programme will be formulated to vaccinate women of 14 years of age with HPV vaccine in 20 taluks of mining-affected areas and Kalyan Karnataka region in the first phase at a cost of Rs. 9 crore. Also, ‘Gruha Aarogya Scheme’ implemented on a pilot basis in Kolar district in 2024-25 to screen and treat six non-communicable diseases will be extended to the entire State at the cost of Rs. 100 crore.
With an intention to improve 108 ambulance services, the Command Control Centre which controls these services will be brought under the health and family welfare department, thereby strengthening Aarogya Kavacha services. A special mission-mode program will be formulated at a cost of Rs. 50 crore to implement precautionary control measures for effective control of communicable diseases such as chikungunya, dengue and Kyasanur Forest Disease (KFD) prevalent in Malenad areas.
Dr Shafiq AM, CEO and co- founder, TriLife Hospital, said “The Karnataka Budget 2026-27 demonstrates the government’s commitment to deepening healthcare penetration and modernization. It bridges the gap between operational costs and government reimbursements, ensuring that private providers can sustainably deliver high-quality care to the state’s most vulnerable citizens. By integrating the private sector through fair pricing and fostering a robust public-private synergy, this budget sets a progressive path toward making Karnataka a global destination for inclusive, advanced medical care”.
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