On Saturday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Sri Madhusudan Sai Institute of Medical Sciences and Research (SMSIMSR) in Chikkaballapur. This institute will provide free medical education and quality medical care to all, and will begin functioning in the academic year 2023. The Prime Minister expressed gratitude for the opportunity to pay tribute to Sir M M Visvesvaraya, one of the architects of modern India, who was born in Chikballapur, and visited his museum.
In his address to the gathering, PM Modi emphasized that the land of Chikballapur was the source of inspiration for Sir Visvesvaraya to come up with new innovations and engineering projects for the farmers and the general populace. He also praised the mission undertaken by the institution through education and health initiatives, calling Satya Sai Gram a wonderful model of service. He noted that the inauguration of the medical college has further strengthened this mission.
PM Modi elaborated upon the motto of Sri Satya Sai University, “Yogah Karmasu Kaushalam,” meaning expertise in the action is yoga. He pointed out that there were less than 380 medical colleges in the country before 2014, and now there are over 650. He underlined that 40 medical colleges have been developed in aspirational districts of the country that were once lagging behind in terms of development. The Prime Minister also mentioned that the number of medical seats in the country has doubled in the last nine years.
The Prime Minister lamented the practice in politics of considering the poor “only as vote banks.” He gave the example of Jan Aushadhi Kendras, or low-priced medicine, and informed that there are about 10,000 Jan Aushadhi Kendras across the country today, out of which more than 1000 are located in Karnataka. “Such an initiative has allowed the poor to save thousands of crores of rupees on medicines,” PM Modi added.
He emphasized that the present government took notice of the concern of the poor and resolved it with the Ayushman Bharat Yojana, which has opened the doors of hospitals for poor families. The government has guaranteed free treatment up to Rs 5 lakh to the poor. PM Modi gave examples of expensive surgery procedures such as heart surgery, knee replacement, and dialysis and pointed out that the government has taken all necessary steps to reduce the expensive fees.
PM Modi also spoke about the government’s focus on improving the health and nutrition of mothers, as the health of the whole generation improves when the health and nutrition of mothers improve. The government is giving special emphasis towards this and has implemented schemes to build toilets, provide free gas connections, tap water to every household, free sanitary pads, and send money directly to the bank for nutritious food.
The Prime Minister congratulated CM Bommai and his team for setting up more than 9,000 health and wellness centres in the state, and praised the Karnataka government for strengthening and empowering ANM and ASHA workers. He informed that 50,000 ANM and ASHA workers and about 1 lakh registered nurses and health workers of Karnataka received modern gadgets, and the double-engine government is trying to provide them with all possible facilities.
Along with health, the double-engine government is paying full attention to the development of the state in all aspects, the Prime Minister said.