CM Siddaramaiah virtually inaugurates day-care Chemotherapy units in 16 locations including Wenlock, Udupi district hosp

In a significant boost to cancer care services in Karnataka, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Friday virtually inaugurated Day-Care Chemotherapy Units at 16 locations across the state, including Mangaluru and Udupi, through video conferencing from Mysuru.

At the District Wenlock Hospital in Mangaluru, MLC Ivan D’Souza officially inaugurated the unit, while in Udupi, MLA Yashpal Suvarna symbolically launched the facility at the District Hospital.

Free Treatment for BPL Cardholders Under Govt Schemes
As per government directives, the Mangaluru unit is being operated and maintained by Kasturba Medical College (KMC). The centre will function from morning to evening, providing free chemotherapy treatment under the Ayushman Bharat – Arogya Karnataka scheme for BPL cardholders, while APL cardholders will receive a 30% discount.

The 10-bed chemotherapy section is equipped with five beds each for men and women, and also includes a 10-bed cancer palliative care centre.

Speaking on the occasion, District Health Officer Dr. H.R. Thimmaiah said, “From today, chemotherapy services will begin on a temporary basis at the first block of the medical wing in Wenlock Hospital. A fully operational centre will soon be launched on the first floor of the hospital’s old building.”

Present during the event were In-charge Deputy Commissioner and Zilla Panchayat CEO Dr. Anand K, District Surgeon and Superintendent Dr. Shivaprakash D.S., Radiation Oncology Department Head Dr. Atiman, KMC Vice-Dean Surekha Shetty, and other medical staff.

Chemotherapy Unit Opens in Udupi
In Udupi, Deputy Commissioner Dr. K. Vidyakumari emphasized the government’s commitment to helping economically disadvantaged patients, noting that day-care chemotherapy units will be especially helpful after surgical oncology procedures. “The district hospital already has a surgical oncologist who has been treating cancer patients. This new facility will now ease access to follow-up chemotherapy,” she added.

Other medical professionals present included Dr. H. Ashok, Dr. Nagaratna, Dr. Vasudev, Dr. Venkatesh, and Dr. Sujith.

The launch of these dedicated centres marks a crucial step in making quality cancer treatment more accessible and affordable to patients across Karnataka.