Minister Sharanprakash Patil Ducks Question on Appointing Regular Director to KMCRI  

Hubballi: Medical Education Minister Dr. Sharanprakash Patil evaded direct questions regarding the long-pending appointment of a regular director to the Karnataka Medical College and Research Institute (KMCRI), Hubballi—one of the region’s busiest and most critical hospitals.

Dr Patil was addressing presspersons here on Tuesday, despite repeated questioning, the minister failed to provide a clear or satisfactory explanation as to why the government has not yet appointed a permanent director to the institute, which caters to thousands of patients across multiple districts. KMCRI has been functioning under an in-charge director for nearly one and a half years—a situation that has raised serious concerns about administrative efficiency and healthcare quality.

When pressed, Dr. Patil vaguely stated that the appointment process would “begin soon,” but stopped short of offering any concrete timeline or commitment.

Adding to the frustration, the minister also sidestepped key questions related to essential healthcare issues. He had no clear answers on the shortage of drugs, the need to establish a dedicated vascular department, the status of organ transplantation services, or plans to set up a skin bank at KMCRI. His responses, vague and unconvincing, only deepened suspicions that his visit was more about a photo opportunity than a genuine review of the institute’s challenges.

While inaugurating several new facilities—including a brachytherapy unit, computerized blood testing lab, modular OTs, an outdoor stadium, and a human milk bank—the minister’s lack of accountability on core institutional issues left many disappointed. Stakeholders are now questioning whether the government is truly committed to strengthening medical infrastructure or simply going through the motions.