Karnataka cabinet okays B R Shetty's super speciality hospital in Udupi

Udupi, Aug 26: NRI billionaire B R Shetty, who is considered as a giant in the United Arab Emirates' health care sector, is all set to build a super specialty hospital in Udupi district in memory of his mother late Koosamma Shetty.

BRS Ventures Pvt Ltd owned by Mr BR Shetty will now develop a 70-bed hospital adjacent to the community health center at Moodanidambur village of Udupi and expand it to a 200-bed super specialty maternity and pediatric hospital.

The Karnataka state cabinet on Wednesday gave its in-principle approval to provide land for the hospital. According to law minister T B Jayachandra, Mr Shetty wanted to take up the philanthropic work in memory of his mother who was born in Udupi.

The hospital, which was constructed under the Rajiv Arogyashree Scheme a few years back, was due for expansion and Mr Shetty decided to pitch in.

The project has been handed over to Shetty along with three additional CA sites in and around the hospital for the expansion. The hospital is being handed to Mr Shetty on a lease period of 30 years.

On the price restriction, after it is privatised, the government has decided to set up a committee under chairmanship of health secretary for the duration of the lease period.

The committee is also going to keep a watch on the land holding, which is being leased out to the private company.