Fri Jan 02 17:33:01 UTC 2026: Summary:
The Karnataka government is partnering with the Azim Premji Foundation to establish a 1,000-bed multi-speciality hospital in Bengaluru, dedicated to providing free organ transplants to the poor. The government will provide 10 acres of land adjacent to NIMHANS on a 99-year lease, while the Foundation will invest ₹ 1,000 crore to set up the hospital and an estimated ₹350 crore annually for its maintenance. Approximately 70% of the beds will be free, with the remaining 30% available at nominal cost and covered under the Ayushman Bharat-Arogya Karnataka scheme. The project aims to address the significant need for organ transplants in the state, where thousands are awaiting kidney and liver transplants.
News Article:
Karnataka to Get Free Organ Transplant Hospital in Collaboration with Azim Premji Foundation
Bengaluru, January 2, 2026 – In a landmark initiative aimed at providing accessible healthcare to the underprivileged, the Karnataka government announced a partnership with the Azim Premji Foundation to build a 1,000-bed multi-speciality hospital offering free organ transplants.
Medical Education Minister Sharan Prakash Patil revealed the details of the project, stating that the government will lease 10 acres of land near NIMHANS in Bengaluru to the Foundation for 99 years. The Foundation is committed to investing ₹1,000 crore in establishing the hospital and an estimated ₹350 crore annually to cover operational costs.
The hospital will offer facilities for kidney, liver, lung, and other organ transplants. The initial 350-bed facility is expected to be operational within three years, with expansion to 1,000 beds planned over the subsequent five years.
“This is a unique model for the country,” stated Dr. Patil. “Approximately 70% of the beds will be available free of charge, while the remaining 30% will be offered at a nominal cost, fully covered by the Ayushman Bharat-Arogya Karnataka scheme.”
The initiative addresses a critical need in the state, with over 5,000 patients awaiting kidney transplants and over 1,000 awaiting liver transplants. To further strengthen this, the government is considering handing over the management of the existing Institute of Gastro Enterology Sciences and Organ Transplant Institute to the Foundation until the new facility is operational.
In addition to the hospital announcement, the Cabinet also approved compensation for landowners in the Bengaluru Business Corridor, where 948 acres have been acquired. The compensation formula has been agreed upon with the landowners.
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