BENGALURU, 6 AUG

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Wednesday highlighted the need to increase the capacity of Victoria Hospital as people from across the country seek treatment there.

He paid a surprise visit to the hospital along with Medical Education Minister Sharan Prakash Patil after his tour to Koppal and Raichur was cancelled due to bad weather. The CM interacted with the patients, including a few from Bihar.

"People from across the country come to Victoria Hospital. There is overcrowding. So there is a need to increase its capacity," Siddaramaiah told reporters.

The CM said that he has asked the medical team to treat patients with compassion.

"Since people are getting free treatment here, there will be too much pressure on the doctors. I have told them to be patient," Siddaramaiah said.

He further said that he had given strict instructions that no one should take even a rupee from patients.

"I noticed that liver transplant in private hospitals costs about Rs 40 lakh to Rs 50 lakh, but here it is done free of cost. The demand is to increase the capacity," Siddaramaiah said. At present, 120 beds are available in the gastroenterology department. There is a proposal to make it a 300-bed facility, which the government will consider, he added.