The Karnataka government will build separate district hospitals in areas where medical colleges are currently attached to district hospitals. Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao announced this in Belagavi on December 18 during the state assembly session. The decision covers Bidar, Kodagu, Chamarajanagar, Vijayanagar, and Haveri. "The State Government started government medical colleges in some districts by attaching the district hospitals as teaching hospitals. We have taken a policy decision to set up separate district hospitals in such districts," Rao said. Already, work has begun on some new district hospitals. The new hospital in Vijayanagar is set to open in February 2026. Other hospitals will open in the coming months. According to rules, towns with populations over 10 lakh and bed occupancy above 70% qualify for district hospitals. This move aims to improve healthcare infrastructure by separating teaching activities from general hospital services.