Karnataka Budget 2017: This hospital catches the eye of Siddaramaiah
BANGALORE: The Budget has earmarked Rs 10 crore to develop the 104-year-old Minto Ophthalmic Hospital into a super speciality hospital. This comes almost a decade after the administration of this oldest speciality hospital in Karnataka sought the state government's help to introduce state-ofthe-art technology.
Located on AV Road, the hospital is named after Lord Minto, a former viceroy of India. It dates back to the early 1890s when Chamarajpet extension was formed. "It started in 1896 as a small dispensary in Chickpet and eye specialist Dr SV Ramanaswamy Iyengar was the first medical officer. It saw nine outpatients on the first day ," says histo rian Arun Prasad.
With increasing demand, it was briefly shifted to Lalbagh Road and operated from Lal Bagh Lodge, which had a provision for 12 beds for men and four beds for women. It was known for its inexpensive service for the poor. Apparently , the hospital overflowed with people during the outbreak of the bubonic plague in 1898, which prompted authorities to make a provision for a larger hospital.
The present colonial stone structure was inaugurated by Mysuru maharaja Krishnaraja Wadiyar IV on January 31, 1913. Some of the stones for the building came from the remnants of the Bangalore Fort, a significant portion of which was torn down by the British after the defeat of Tipu Sultan in the Third Anglo-Mysore War (1791). The hospital had 100 beds to start with. In the 1920s, a 'Seethamma Ward' for women and children was set up with a private endowment.
The hospital is affiliated to the Bangalore Medical College and Research Institute. Today , it has a capacity of 300 beds, with 33 doctors. "The budget grant is good news but resources should also be set aside for the restoration of the heritage structure. Many areas in the old building, like the compound wall, are damaged," said Prasad.
Located on AV Road, the hospital is named after Lord Minto, a former viceroy of India. It dates back to the early 1890s when Chamarajpet extension was formed. "It started in 1896 as a small dispensary in Chickpet and eye specialist Dr SV Ramanaswamy Iyengar was the first medical officer. It saw nine outpatients on the first day ," says histo rian Arun Prasad.
With increasing demand, it was briefly shifted to Lalbagh Road and operated from Lal Bagh Lodge, which had a provision for 12 beds for men and four beds for women. It was known for its inexpensive service for the poor. Apparently , the hospital overflowed with people during the outbreak of the bubonic plague in 1898, which prompted authorities to make a provision for a larger hospital.
The present colonial stone structure was inaugurated by Mysuru maharaja Krishnaraja Wadiyar IV on January 31, 1913. Some of the stones for the building came from the remnants of the Bangalore Fort, a significant portion of which was torn down by the British after the defeat of Tipu Sultan in the Third Anglo-Mysore War (1791). The hospital had 100 beds to start with. In the 1920s, a 'Seethamma Ward' for women and children was set up with a private endowment.
The hospital is affiliated to the Bangalore Medical College and Research Institute. Today , it has a capacity of 300 beds, with 33 doctors. "The budget grant is good news but resources should also be set aside for the restoration of the heritage structure. Many areas in the old building, like the compound wall, are damaged," said Prasad.
