The Karnataka government has sanctioned ₹46 crore for establishing a multi-speciality hospital in Saundatti, located in Belagavi district, Health and Family Welfare Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao announced on March 23.
He also stated that plans are underway to set up new, well-equipped hospitals in the Ramdurga and Kittur taluks. The announcement came during the inauguration of a health camp in Saundatti.
Khanapur taluk recently inaugurated a mother-and-child hospital and a new district hospital. Additionally, district-level hospital facilities are planned for larger towns such as Gokak. Minister Rao added that more than 38,000 patients have already received treatment for eye-related issues under blindness prevention initiatives. Under the Home Health Scheme, the government will soon launch a program to deliver medicines to every individual and household.
Public Works and District In-charge Minister Satish Jarkiholi described the health camp as a historic milestone for the region.
“A health initiative of this scale has never been held here before. It was made possible due to the dedicated efforts of local MLAs, including Vishwas Vaidya. The state budget has also earmarked extra funds for constructing a new public hospital,” he said.
The government is also actively working on the development of Saundatti Yallamma temple and the taluk, with a special allocation of ₹200 crore set aside for the region’s growth, Jarkiholi added.
MLA Vishwas Vaidya mentioned that over 8,000 people were screened during the health camp. He appealed to the government to enhance healthcare infrastructure in the taluk, including establishing a hospital in Munavalli town, which serves over 40,000 people across 25 villages. He also requested the upgrade of the primary health center in Munavalli into a community health center.
He further noted that 172 village panchayats in the district have been declared TB-free and representatives from 11 villages in Saundatti taluk were honored during the event.
