Pics: Umesh Marpalli
Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (HB)

Udupi, Jan 19: Sri Vishweshateertha Swamiji of Pejawar Math on Thursday, January 18 dedicated Koosamma Shambhu Shetty Memorial Haji Abdullah Mother and Child Hospital, also known as Mother & Child Hospital, established by NRI entreprenuer B R Shetty's BRS Health & Research Institute Pvt Ltd,, to the general public in a grand ceremony held at Atal Bihari Vajpayee auditorium at Rajathadri, Manipal.

Speaking after inaugurating the ceremony Swamiji said, "The opening of this hospital is good news for Udupi as it has more facilities than it did before (when it was government mother and child hospital). Free service should be started for women and children. I have heard people say that the hospital is being commercialized, which is false. This hospital is now renovated and is ready to render service to poor. It should ensure that poor and backward people receive treatment free of cost."

Union minister of health J P Nadda congratulated Dr B R Shetty for his initiatives in establishing health centres in Karnataka. "Generally, people after achieving success, forget their roots, but Shetty is different. He is strengthening his hometown Udupi. This is very appreciable. The services here, including medicines, will be provided free of cost. It is not easy to make such big commitment as it involves a lot of expense and cost keep increases. Dr B R Shetty’s motto of affordability, quality and ethics will help him succeed," he said.

"This is a unique and first-of-its-kind public-private partnership' hospital project in India, and especially in the state of Karnataka wherein the state government and a private entrepreneur have joined hands to provide world class healthcare for the poor people of the state," he added.

NRI entrepreneur Dr B R Shetty thanked Pejawar Swamiji for dedicating the hospital for public use soon after descending from Sarvajna Peetha and said, "I am happy at this kind gesture from the Swamiji. This hospital will serve people irrespective of caste and creed. This is just the beginning and we can do many more things like this. If the government allows me, I will give my best to the society under public-private partnership model. I feel happy to deliver service to the people of my city. I have started ventures in Kerala, Chhattisgarh, Bhubaneshwar, Nepal and Egypt. All have become successful."

Dr B R Shetty also thanked chief minister Siddaramaiah, health minister Ramesh Kumar and district in-charge minister Pramod Madhwaraj for their support.

District in-charge minister Pramod Madhwaraj said, "The hospital in its earlier condition was not serving the purpose. The 200-beded renovated hospital will start operating from January 19. A 400-beded multi-specialty hospital will come up soon in the city. The income from the multi-specialty hospital will be used to run the 200-beded government hospital."

C R Shetty, physician, deputy commissioner Priyanka Mary Francis, SP Laxman Nimbargi, zilla panchayat president Dinakar Babu, CMC president Meenankshi Madhav Bannanje and others were present.