Mysuru Medical College and Research Centre (MMCRI) has finished all formalities to hand over land for building the Centenary Outpatient Department (OPD) Complex at K.R. Hospital. MMCRI Dean Dr. K.R. Dakshayani confirmed the land was transferred to the Karnataka Health System Reform and Development Project (KHSRDP), which will handle construction. The new OPD will bring all outpatient services under one roof, reducing congestion on the hospital campus and making it easier for patients. The site, formerly housing special wards and a rose garden, is cleared and ready for construction to start. The project is expected to take about 18 months. Currently, K.R. Hospital serves more than 2,000 outpatients daily, with patients moving across the large campus for different services. Centralising OPD services and diagnostic labs will improve convenience and reduce crowding. The special ward block was demolished to make way for the building, which recently received approval from the Karnataka Cabinet. The OPD complex is a key centenary project for MMCRI. In 2024, the State Budget included ₹75 crore for the OPD building set to streamline outpatient care. K.R. Hospital handles over 9 lakh outpatients and 6 lakh inpatients yearly, one of the largest patient loads in Karnataka’s state hospitals. MMCRI’s three hospitals together treat nearly 13.25 lakh patients annually. This patient load has slightly eased with other district hospitals opening but can exceed 2,500 outpatients on busy days. K.R. Hospital has 1,200 beds, Cheluvamba 420, and PKTB 370. Dr. Dakshayani said the new building will be a major boost to reduce crowding and improve outpatient services. She also shared that construction of a new IVF facility at Cheluvamba Hospital is 75% complete. Tenders for medical equipment procurement are underway. This ₹2.9 crore IVF centre will be the second in Karnataka after Victoria Hospital in Bengaluru.