The Karnataka Cabinet has approved the development of a 1,000-bed multi-speciality hospital focused on organ transplantation in Bengaluru, in collaboration with the Azim Premji Foundation. The decision was announced following a state government cabinet meeting, with the hospital planned to be constructed adjacent to the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS) campus.
The project aligns with ongoing public-private-partnership (PPP) initiatives aimed at strengthening tertiary health infrastructure and expanding access to critical surgical interventions in southern India.
The hospital will be developed in phases over a period of five years with an estimated total investment of ₹1,000 crore. Initially, a 300-bed facility is expected to be completed within three years, with the remainder of the capacity being built out to reach 1,000 beds.
The planned facility will offer a broad range of organ transplant services, including procedures for the kidney, liver, heart, intestine and other organs, addressing the significant demand for these lifesaving treatments.
The Azim Premji Foundation has agreed to fund the full development and annual operations of the hospital. The foundation will invest the initial capital and is expected to allocate approximately ₹350 crore per year for ongoing operations and maintenance. The government will provide 10 acres of land on a 99-year lease near NIMHANS to support the project.
This collaboration represents a public-philanthropic partnership, with the state taking a supportive role through land provision and regulatory approvals, and the foundation contributing capital and long-term operational resources.
Under the proposed model, approximately 70 % of the hospital’s beds will be free for economically weaker sections, particularly those holding Below Poverty Line (BPL) cards. The remaining 30 % of beds will be offered on a nominal fee basis, with treatments covered under the Ayushman Bharat–Arogya Karnataka health insurance scheme.
The hospital’s proximity to NIMHANS was cited by government officials as a strategic choice, as it is a major health institution that receives significant volumes of trauma and critical cases. This position may also facilitate streamlined organ retrieval and transplantation logistics.
The hospital’s governing board is expected to include representatives from the government administration, alongside members appointed by the Azim Premji Foundation. This structure is intended to provide oversight and integration with existing health systems.
Additionally, there is ongoing dialogue about integrating existing transplant service such as those currently provided by the Institute of Gastroenterology Sciences & Organ Transplant (IGOT) in Bengaluru, under the new hospital framework for continuity of care.
The project dovetails with state and national policies aimed at boosting organ donation awareness and transplant readiness, along with development of specialised tertiary care facilities.
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