Mr. B S Yeddyurappa, Karnataka chief minister, has made announcement about the opening of two new branches of the medical centre at Mysore and Hubli for the benefit of heart patients.

The minister announced this during the annual governing council meeting of Jayadeva Institute of Cardiology on Friday.

The minister said that the cardiac institute will be established within Mysore Medical College campus covering around 10,000 sq ft area.

The Mysore branch having 60-bed facility would start functioning by September this year (2009).

The CM also said that the needed equipment and manpower from Sri Jayadeva Institute of Cardiology would be shifted to the Mysore branch.

Recently, the Mysore Urban Development Authority (MUDA) has restituted the first floor of the Mysore Medical College.

The minister said that the Hubli's branch will be set up at Hubli-Dharwad, under Karnataka Institute of Medical Science (KIMS) Hubli.

Dr. C. N. Manjunath, director, Sri Jayadeva Institute of Cardiology, stated that the Hubli branch would become operational after one year.

The CM stated that the allocations would be made to offer free treatment for at least 2,000 heart patients annually at Sri Jayadeva Institute of Cardiology.

Dr. Manjunath stated that Suvarna Arogya Chetana, that has been providing free medical treatment to school children, will now be extended to pre-school children.

Dr. Manjunath commented, "Under Dr B R Ambedkar medical scheme, patients from scheduled castes can avail treatment up to Rs 1 lakh. But they have to submit both income and caste certificate in English. In the last three months, 15 patients have benefited."

Mr. Katta Subramanaya Naidu, Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board Minister, presented a cheque worth Rs 1 crore to the CM's relief fund.