Hubballi: The Karnataka Institute of Medical Sciences (KIMS), the lifeline of North Karnataka, will soon see a significant change as the institute will be renamed as the Karnataka Medical College and Research Institute (KMCRI), according to a report in DH.

The government health institute, originally called Karnataka Medical College (KMC) when it was established in 1957, was renamed KIMS in 1996. Now, after 28 years, the institute, which serves the people of North Karnataka, will be renamed KMCRI. The report stated that the government has approved the name change, which is expected to take effect in the next two months. The colleges in Bengaluru and Mysuru have already been upgraded to research institutes.

KIMS Director Dr. S.F. Kammar highlighted the benefits of the upgrade, noting that if a medical college is upgraded to a research institute, it would receive tax exemptions when importing medical equipment and would gain additional facilities.