Dinesh Gundu Rao

Minister of Health

Rao took oath as a minister on 27 May 2023. He was handed the health and family welfare portfolio two days later.^[14] One of Rao's first acts was to review the condition of state-run dialysis centres in the State and the process in which tenders were given. He felt that prices were high and directed for a fresh tender to be rolled out and that "[s]hortage of nephrologists in these centres will also be addressed."^[15] A few months later, he stated that more than 3,000 doctors would be recruited to address their shortage in government-run hospitals.^[16] In May 2025, a pay revision of 20 to 55 percent depending on the post under the National Health Mission was approved. It included medical officers, specialist doctors, and staff nurses working in Special Newborn Care Units and Intensive care units.^[17]

In September 2023, intending to strengthen the public healthcare system in Karnataka, a memorandum of understanding was signed by the department of health with Centre for Cellular and Molecular Platforms, a Bengaluru-based deep-tech innovation hub. Rao stated that improved diagnostics and screening were two areas that the government prioritized "as a means to boost health outcomes".^[18] Later that year, a mobile clinic named Wellness on Wheels was initiated by the department. It was the product of a partnership between Volvo and Narayana Health. Rao stated that the clinic would travel across the state, including rural areas and slums, making healthcare accessible to all, and that the services offered would be echo, X-ray, ultrasound and mammogram, free of cost.^[19]

An increasing trend of female foeticide was seen in the early tenure of Rao. It was reported that sex ratio in the State fell from 947 to 929 in 2023. Addressing the issue in the assembly, Rao spoke of "rising cases of female foeticide that thrive in the state through organised rackets comprising doctors, lab technicians, nurses and hospital managements." He also stated that there had been an increase in sex determination practices in the State, which is illegal in India.^[20] He added that a CID probe had been ordered to investigate it.^[21]

In February 2024, the government passed the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Bill, 2024, raising the age limit of sale of cigarettes from 18 years to 21 years. While presenting the Bill before the House, Rao added that other provisions included "...cigarettes cannot be sold within 100 meters of schools" and a penalty of ₹1,000 was imposed in cases of violation.^[22] The sale of both tobacco and non-tobacco hookah at public places was also banned.^[23] In May that year, Rao announced a ban on food color added on street food such as Gobi Manchurian, after random samples were tested to contain Rhodamine B, a cancer-causing agent that is found in industrial dyes.^[24] In September. he wrote to the Prime Minister urging the 18 percent Goods and Services Tax (GST) on health insurance be abolished. He wrote, "A GST so high on what is an essential service/necessity, especially in a post pandemic world, is draconian to say the least and definitely not what a welfare state should be doing."^[25]