Karnataka has announced plans to add 200 beds at Bengaluru’s Kidwai Memorial Institute of Oncology and examine a request for three acres of land to house families accompanying children receiving cancer treatment. The commitments were made by D K Shivakumar during a Children’s Day visit to the institute on Saturday.
Shivakumar visited wards in the institute’s Kapoor building and spoke with children undergoing treatment, including patients suffering from blood cancer. He also met mothers and other family members who had travelled from different parts of Karnataka, asking whether they were receiving the required facilities and whether anyone was demanding money from them.
The visit focused on the conditions faced by children and families using the state’s specialised cancer-care infrastructure. Shivakumar distributed chocolates and flowers to patients and asked children about their homes, education and ambitions. He also enquired about the treatment being provided at the institute.
Speaking to reporters after the visit, Shivakumar said the government’s responsibility extended beyond medical treatment to providing shelter and emotional support for families accompanying children. “Such families should be given shelter and courage along with treatment,” he said, according to Prajavani.
He said an additional 200 beds would be arranged at Kidwai Memorial Institute. The government would also examine the institute’s request for three acres of land to provide accommodation for mothers and family members accompanying children, and take the necessary steps, he said.
The proposed expansion comes as specialised hospitals in Bengaluru continue to serve patients from across Karnataka. During his interaction with families, Shivakumar also said cancer hospitals would be built in patients’ respective districts. The source report did not specify the locations, project costs, construction timelines or agencies responsible for implementing those facilities.
Shivakumar said the rising incidence of cancer among young children was a matter of concern. He added that the government would examine what was required to provide children with all necessary treatment facilities free of cost. The announcement did not provide details of the funding allocation, procurement process or schedule for the additional beds.
The next steps will involve examining the three-acre land request, finalising the plan for the additional 200 beds and determining how the proposed district-level cancer hospitals and free-treatment measures will be implemented.
