Karnataka Minister Warns Hospital Directors Over Drug Shortages, ICU Gaps and Poor Sanitation
Bengaluru: Medical Education and Skill Development Minister Dr. Sharanaprakash R. Patil has issued a strong warning to directors of government hospitals across Karnataka over recurring complaints of drug shortages, inadequate ICU capacity, and poor sanitation standards.
Chairing a high-level review meeting at Vikasa Soudha, the Minister flagged serious concerns raised by the Lokayukta as well as persistent public complaints regarding the availability of medicines in hospitals under the medical education department.
Taking a firm stand on procurement lapses, Dr. Patil criticized hospital heads for adopting a reactive approach to drug purchases. Questioning the delay in tendering, he directed all government medical colleges and hospitals to initiate procurement processes at least three months in advance to prevent stock-outs that disrupt patient care.
Addressing the shortage of ICU beds, the Minister sought an explanation from officials at Victoria Hospital’s trauma and emergency care centre. As an immediate step, he instructed Additional Chief Secretary Mohammed Moshin and Director of Medical Education Dr. B.L. Sujatha Rathod to allocate an entire floor in the upcoming 10-storey Victoria Hospital building for additional ICU facilities. The new block is scheduled for inauguration by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on May 2.
On sanitation, Dr. Patil expressed strong displeasure over the condition of hospital washrooms and malfunctioning lifts. He directed hospital managements to ensure cleanliness and round-the-clock functionality of essential facilities, stating that clean washrooms are a matter of basic human dignity, not a luxury.
The Minister also instructed the department’s engineering wing to expedite all pending civil works and set a strict deadline of end-May for near completion of ongoing projects, warning that further delays would not be tolerated.
Raising financial concerns, Dr. Patil pulled up hospital authorities for under-utilisation of the Ayushman Bharat–Arogya Karnataka (AB-ARK) scheme. He noted that some institutions were claiming only about 60% of their eligible reimbursements and stressed that full utilisation is essential for financial sustainability.
He warned that failure to claim the complete entitlement not only weakens the financial health of institutions but also impacts their ability to deliver quality healthcare services.
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