Bangalore is fast turning into a mecca of medicine

[Guest guest]

Bangalore : Bangalore's latest nomenclature is `Heart City', and it is living up to this name.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The city is increasingly becoming the preferred destination for paediatric cardiac cases in the country, contrary to the belief that the middle-aged and elderly could outnumber children in heart treatment. Attractive health packages, appreciative state health policies and an increase in free and subsidised treatment are attracting cardiac patients from across the country and abroad. The current year has been hectic, with an increase in patients, especially from other states and countries. "Our hospital has the highest number of cardiologists in the country, with 32 cardiologists and 15 cardio-thoracic surgeons. More than 15% of our cases are paediatric, and surgeries for kids below one year of age are carried out here, when most states don't have such a provision," said director Dr C N Manjunath of Jayadeva Institute of Cardiology, the government-owned autonomous hospital. The out-patient number has doubled from 400 to 800 per day. There has been a significant rise in the number of in-patients, from 16,000 last year to 21,000 in the current year, apart from 12,500 angiogram, angioplasty and valve treatments. "Apart from neighbouring states, we have patients from Rajasthan, Jharkhand, Delhi, West Bengal, and even from Nepal. There have been enquiries from Pakistan too," said Dr Manjunath. Sri Sathya Sai Baba Hospital, which offers free treatment, has this year treated 46,909 out-patients, 4,322 in-patients and performed 1,146 cardiac surgeries. Almost 40% of the cases are paediatric and all our treatment is free, we don't have a cash counter nor billing station at our hospital," said Dr P K Das, chief of cardiology. "We get patients from across the country, mainly from Kerala, Tamil Nadu and north-eastern states. Patients also come from Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, the Gulf and African countries." In fact, Sri Sathya Sai Baba Hospital has a waiting list of two to three years. According to Narayana Hrudayalaya authorities, 10% of paediatric cases in the country are treated here. Of the 6,200 Indian patients who underwent surgery at the hospital, this year, 60% of them are children. "Ours is the only hospital that offers artificial heart transplantation in the country and we receive paediatric patients from Bangladesh, West Asian countries, Africa and Iraq for treatment," said Dr Devi Shetty, chairman of Narayana Hrudayalaya. According to Dr I B Vijayalakshmi, paediatric cardiologist at Jayadeva Institute of Cardiology and former president of Cardiology Society of India, Bangalore chapter, some government schemes are helpful, like the Hrudaya Spandana scheme, which gives BPL card-holders Rs 45,000 for cardiac treatment. The Suvarna Karnataka Suraksha Arogya Yojana, which offers free treatment to all children in the state, regardless of their financial background, Yashaswini scheme and Sandya Suraksha Scheme have encouraged cardiac treatment in the state. "Some of the visiting patients from other states envy our state-sponsored health schemes that ensure free and subsidised treatment for the patient, and Bangalore has 13 institutes and hospitals to treat cardiac patients and around 85 interventional cardiologists," said Dr Vijayalakshmi.

 

SOURCE : http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Bangalore/Bangalore_is_fast_turning_into_a_mecca_of_medicine/articleshow/3833567.cms