Introduction – KR Hospital
“Health is wealth” goes the adage and the rulers of Mysuru had this realization a century ago when they were building a 20th century modern city in the British ruled India. They knew that no nation could survive if its citizens are sick and anemic, as they (diseased people) make the nation weak and vulnerable. To address this problem, in the year 1878 the kings built a modern hospital in Mysuru called “Krishnarajendra (KR)” Hospital, which was called “Dhoddaspatre” in Kannada language. A true super speciality hospital in that era.
The hospital saw few modernization and expansion works first in 1918 and later in 1927 respectively. With increase in the patients frequenting the hospital, it (the hospital) got further expanded with the addition of children and women’s blocks post independence.
The 1970s, 1980s and 1990s saw an unprecedented rise in hospital’s popularity among the patients, as it was considered to be “the hospital of choice” for the poor and downtrodden. It still is the most popular and one of the highly visited hospitals even in the 21st century.
What was started humbly by the Kings over a century ago, went on to become the most sought after modern government hospitals in the state catering to the patients of the Mysuru region.
A peek into MMCRI
There was a realization that to serve the large number of patients, the hospital required qualified/ experienced physicians (doctors) in large numbers. Thus the idea of starting a well-equipped modern medical hospital came into being.
The Mysore Medical College took shape whose credit should go to His Highness Krishnarajendra Wodeyar IV. The college turned out to be the first institution of its kind in Karnataka.
It was established in 1924 at Bangalore and was affiliated to Mysore University. In 1930 it was shifted to Mysuru and was under the dual control of University of Mysore and Government of Mysore. In 1958, the Health Department of the Government of Mysore took over the complete administration.
This prestigious institution celebrated its Platinum Jubilee in December 1999. The K.R. Hospital, Cheluvamba Hospital, Trauma Care Centre, Princess Krishnarajamani Tuberculosis (PKTB) and Chest Diseases Hospital are attached to the Mysore Medical College and Research Institute (MMCRI).
MMCRI – Princess Krishnajammanni Super Speciality Hospital
In the 2010s there was a feeling in the government circle that each of the revenue earning zones in Karnataka like Bengaluru, Mysuru, Kalaburagi and Belagavi should have a well-equipped super specialty hospital (SSH) funded by the government. The SSH can cater to the people of belonging to each of the zone
The former CM Shri Siddaramaiah laid the foundation stone and allocated required funds for a 220-bed Super Speciality Hospital attached to the Mysore Medical College and Research Institute (MMCRI) at Mysuru. The hospital was built at an incredible speed and the work was completed at an estimated cost of Rs 123.77 crore at PKTB Sanatorium premises on KRS Road.
The five-floor hospital offers over a dozen speciality services such as nephrology, medical oncology, surgical oncology, medical gastroenterology, surgical gastroenterology neurology, neurosurgery, plastic surgery, pediatric surgery, urology and neurosurgery.
The hospital will be officially thrown open to the public in the year 2021, as manpower and medical equipment are in the process of induction when this article was being written.
However one thing is sure that the people will welcome the addition of one more hospital with modern infrastructure to the list, as they have more choice now.
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