The Karnataka government has proposed a fully equipped Trauma Care Centre (TCC) for Chitradurga, but a lack of space at the district general hospital is delaying the project. The ongoing construction of a government medical college on the hospital premises has left no room for the new facility. Authorities now face two choices—either shift the medical college to the city’s outskirts or establish the TCC elsewhere.
The district hospital handles around 525 road accident cases monthly, ranking among the top five in Karnataka for such emergencies. However, the absence of a specialized trauma unit has forced patients, especially those with severe head injuries, to seek treatment in other districts or private hospitals. Currently, head trauma cases are referred to Shivamogga’s McGann Teaching General Hospital due to the lack of neurosurgeons and plastic surgeons in Chitradurga. The hospital, however, manages bone fracture cases, performing 170-180 surgeries monthly, the third highest among general hospitals in the state.
The 2025-26 state budget allocated ₹30 crore for the TCC, but selecting an appropriate location remains a challenge. Discussions are underway to determine whether the facility can be integrated into a block of the under-construction medical college. Experts argue that the medical college should have been built outside the city, as land was available in Chikkapura and on Hiriyur Road.
A trauma centre within the district hospital is essential, ensuring quick medical response for accident victims. Officials will soon decide the project’s fate.
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