About 20,000 signatures have been collected. Mangaluru : Like-minded organisations have launched a signature campaign seeking branches of Kidwai Memorial Institute of Oncology, Sri Jayadeva Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences and Research and National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences in Puttur.
The campaign aims to collect one lakh signatures by year-end, activist Dinesh Kamath of Puttur Govt Medical College Action Committee said. A presentation on the need for the facilities was made on Monday.
It has also sought priority inspection and allocation of more than 120 acres identified at Sediyapu for future medical and research institutions.
Committee president MB Vishwanatha Rai said the notification establishing a govt medical college in Puttur marked the first significant victory of its campaign and the second phase of its public health movement. He said the college should remain entirely under govt ownership and management, without a public-private partnership, and receive adequate infrastructure and staff. The committee wants regional units of Nimhans, Jayadeva and Kidwai on the medical college campus to provide coordinated multi-speciality treatment.