Minister for Medical Education Sharan Prakash Patil says the government has taken steps to make necessary recruitment for the opening of new medical colleges.
| Photo Credit: FILE PHOTO
The State government has decided to submit a proposal for new government medical colleges in Ramanagara of Bengaluru South district and Bagalkot this year.
Also, due to lack of necessary infrastructure, the proposal for a government medical college in Kanakapura of Bengaluru South district was not submitted this year.
The medical colleges for Ramanagara and Kanakapura have remained as a hope for the last three years because of the lack of necessary infrastructure, including teaching and non-teaching recruitment. The National Medical Commission (NMC) had denied permission to start the colleges in 2023-24 and 2024-2025.
Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar and Minister for Medical Education Sharan Prakash Patil held a meeting with the department officials and instructed them to make necessary preparations for the start of the new medical colleges in Ramanagara and Kanakapura and submit a request to the NMC.
But, in 2025-26 too, a request was submitted without proper infrastructure and appointment of necessary teaching staff. Therefore, the NMC had rejected the proposals.
Administrative approval
The State government decided to construct a medical college and hospital in Kanakapura at a cost of about ₹550 crore and gave administrative approval in October 2025. A tender has been floated for the construction work.
Speaking to The Hindu, Dr. Patil said, “It has been decided to submit a request to the NMC for the opening of medical colleges in Ramanagara and Bagalkot this year. Around 50% of the construction works on the Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences (RGUHS) new campus in Ramanagara has been completed and remaining work will be completed in seven months. In addition, there is a district hospital with a capacity of about 300 beds for the opening of a medical college.”
A tender has been called for a medical college in Bagalkot at a cost of ₹450 crore. Here too, a medical college would be opened next year using the district hospital, he added.
Although administrative approval has been given for the construction of a medical college in Kanakapura, there is a shortage of a hospital. As per the NMC rules, a minimum of 220-bedded hospital is required for a new medical college and 50 seats will be sanctioned.
“Due to lack of infrastructure, we have decided not to submit a proposal for the opening of a new medical college in Kanakapura this year. After the completion of the construction works, a proposal will be submitted to the NMC,” the Minister said.
Action for recruitment
The Minister also said that the government has taken steps to make the necessary recruitment for the opening of new medical colleges.
“Currently, the High Court has issued a stay order against making any new recruitment owing to internal reservation. But we are doing contractual recruitment. The officials have been instructed to get approval from the Finance Department for the posts required for new medical colleges and make preparations. The recruitment process will be completed soon after the High Court’s final verdict,” he said.
Medical seats enhancement
In addition, the government medical colleges have been instructed to submit a proposal for additional medical seats this year too.
“Last time, the NMC had sanctioned a total of 450 undergraduate and 421 postgraduate medical seats. This year too, colleges with good infrastructure have been instructed to submit proposals for seats enhancement,” he said.
Published – January 10, 2026 10:27 pm IST
