The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) is moving forward with plans to establish the city’s sixth government medical college, aimed at enhancing Bengaluru’s healthcare infrastructure. Currently, the city is home to three state-run medical colleges and two under the central government. The new initiative is part of BBMP’s broader efforts to improve public health services and provide better medical education in the region.
The BBMP’s clinic department, in collaboration with the state government’s medical education officials, has been working diligently on a detailed project report. The report is nearing completion, and officials expect to submit the final proposal to the government within a month, pending approval from senior authorities.
Originally, the BBMP considered setting up the medical college at its hospital premises in M.C. Layout, Govindarajanagar, and a feasibility study was conducted. However, a dispute over this site has delayed progress. The project will only move forward once this issue is resolved.
In the last state budget, BBMP requested ₹500 crore for the establishment of the medical college, but the grant was not allocated. Nonetheless, the government has now instructed the BBMP to submit the detailed project report, raising hopes for funding in the upcoming budget.
Currently, BBMP oversees several healthcare facilities in the city, including six referral hospitals, 26 maternity hospitals, and 135 urban primary health centres. However, these facilities lack the capacity for advanced treatment and emergency care. The proposed medical college would help bridge this gap by providing hands-on training opportunities for students, who currently face limitations in private medical colleges due to insufficient patient inflow.
Additionally, the BBMP has proposed a ₹350 crore plan to upgrade hospital infrastructure under the Brand Bengaluru scheme, aiming to modernize healthcare facilities across the city. This proposal is also awaiting government approval.
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