The Department of General Medicine at Kasturba Hospitals is the largest general medicine department in Coastal Karnataka. It offers inpatient and outpatient services for the management of patients with common and chronic diseases. The type of clinical services provided includes both primary care and hospital care. The department which is part of the Kasturba Medical College comprises of 8 units involved in research related to human diseases, with the broad aim of understanding disease processes at the molecular and physiological level and applying this knowledge to clinical management. The Department of Medicine stands firmly on the belief that we can, within the same department, achieve excellence in research, clinical care, and teaching. The Department of Medicine is concerned not only about the overall quantity and quality of care, but also increasingly committed to developing specialized programs and advances in the administration of care to improve patient satiety and safety. Infectious diseases are one of the major concern in this region and department handles a large volume of infectious problems. Among the problems handled are influenza; hepatitis; mononucleosis; Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS); tuberculosis, acute febrile patients, pneumonia; endocarditis; malaria and other tropical diseases. The department has a facility for infectious patients needing isolation and ICU care.