Bengaluru: To boost paediatric healthcare access and manage its rising in-patient load, the state-run Indira Gandhi Institute of Child Health (IGICH) in Jayanagar is constructing a new 450-bed Super Specialty Block adjacent to its existing building. The upcoming eight-floor facility will feature advanced medical infrastructure, including a robotic surgery centre, dedicated renal and liver transplant centres, and a bone marrow transplant unit. With this expansion, IGICH’s total capacity will rise to 1,000 beds, marking one of the largest paediatric healthcare capacities in the state.
New block to boost specialised paediatric care
The construction of the new block comes at a time when IGICH is witnessing a sharp surge in both outpatient and in-patient numbers. The hospital is recognised as a Centre of Excellence for treating rare diseases, and the new bone marrow transplant facility is expected to significantly improve access to life-saving treatment for such conditions.
Medical Education Minister Sharan Prakash Patil emphasised the necessity of the project, stating that IGICH is the only state-run paediatric hospital serving not just Karnataka but neighbouring states as well. “The work is nearing completion, and we will be inaugurating the new block in three months,” he said.
Rising patient load across departments
The hospital currently receives more than 1 lakh OPD patients annually, with substantial in-patient numbers as well. In 2024 alone, IGICH treated 1.69 lakh outpatients and 20,605 in-patients, performing 4,594 surgeries.
Dr Sanjay K. S., Director of IGICH, explained that the growing demand has put pressure on existing resources. “We get patients from all over the state and even from neighbouring states, especially for rare diseases. We get at least 1 lakh patients a year in our OPD and around 15,000–20,000 in-patients… Despite this, we have patients waiting for surgeries. We expect to handle the increased patient load with the new block,” he said.
Orthopaedics saw the highest footfall in OPD with 15,020 cases, followed by 10,547 cases in ENT. The hospital has also completed 90 cochlear implant surgeries, while neurology, nephrology and endocrinology departments continue to see consistently high volumes. Around 750 children with Type 1 diabetes are under regular care at the endocrinology unit.
Growing demand reflected in yearly data
Hospital records show a steady surge in patient numbers over the last four years. In-patient admissions rose from 14,663 in 2021 to 18,834 in 2022, 19,696 in 2023, and 20,605 in 2024.
Surgeries too recorded a significant increase—from 3,351 in 2022 to 4,594 in 2024, reflecting IGICH’s expanding surgical responsibilities. Officials highlighted that as the complexity of cases grows, the need for specialised infrastructure and trained manpower becomes more critical.
Staffing expansion planned
Bengaluru: To support the enlarged infrastructure, IGICH has sought government approval to recruit 90 doctors, 300 nurses, and 200 additional staff members. Hospital authorities noted that staffing requirements will escalate once the new block becomes operational, especially with the addition of advanced surgical centres and transplant facilities.
The state government is expected to finalise recruitment plans before the inauguration of the new building.
Conclusion
The new 450-bed Super Specialty Block marks a major milestone for paediatric healthcare in Karnataka. With increasing patient volumes, rising demand for specialised care, and a growing caseload of rare diseases, IGICH’s expansion is expected to significantly enhance access to advanced medical treatments for children across the region. Authorities believe the upgraded facilities, coupled with planned staffing enhancements, will ensure that IGICH continues to serve as a critical paediatric healthcare hub for years to come.