The state government-run super-specialty hospital in Belagavi will be handed over to a private institution for operations.
The hospital, inaugurated with much fanfare will be placed under the care of KLE Hospital, citing a severe shortage of doctors. BIMS Director Dr. Ashok Shetty and representatives from KLE are at an agreement under which KLE will deploy doctors to run the facility free of cost. The agreement is yet to be signed.
The move has sparked widespread speculation that the government, burdened by financial commitments under its guarantee schemes, has failed to allocate the necessary funds for the hospital’s independent functioning.
The super-specialty hospital, constructed at a cost of ₹140 crore within the BIMS civil hospital premises, was completed in December 2022. However, it has remained non-functional due to delays in staff appointments and procurement of equipment.
Launched in 2019, the project boasts 290 beds, eight state-of-the-art operation theatres, and 20 general wards, and was envisioned to provide advanced healthcare to Belagavi division and surrounding districts. Yet, the absence of government funding for doctor appointments and essential medical instruments has stalled its opening.
In an official letter to the Principal Secretary, Department of Medical Education, Dr. Ashok Shetty (Director BIMS) confirmed that BIMS, in collaboration with KLE, would begin offering super-specialty services to patients of Belagavi and neighboring areas. The agreement between BIMS and KLE was formally signed on August 20, 2025, at the Director’s chamber, with all department heads instructed to attend.
While authorities insist the partnership will finally operationalize the long-delayed hospital, critics argue it reflects the government’s inability to strengthen public healthcare and its growing dependence on private institutions.