LaunchPad

Manipal Hrudaya Suraksha Launched

In association with Manipal University and Manipal Foundation, Kasturba Hospital, Manipal recently launched 'Manipal Hrudaya Suraksha'—a subsidised cardiac surgery programme for the poor.

Under the scheme, the payment of the cardiac surgery cost will be on participation basis. About 50 per cent of the cost of surgery will be picked up by Manipal Foundation, another 30 per cent would be borne by Kasturba Hospital and the patient would have to pay the remaining 20 per cent. The patients eligible for the scheme will be identified by the management team at the hospital. This scheme will not include the stent / valve used in the cardiac surgery, and the charges for the same has to be borne by the patient in addition.

Said Dr (AVM) T S Raghu Raman (AVSM), Medical Superintendent, Kasturba Hospital, Manipal, "Kasturba Hospital, Manipal University and Manipal Foundation are focused on removing the disparities to rural population in terms of cost and reach. The first case will be done free of cost to patients under the Manipal Hrudaya Suraksha Scheme."

Raghupathi Bhat, MLA-Udupi inaugurated the programme by lighting the lamp. Speaking on the occasion, he said, "By implementing the scheme, cardiac surgery is made reachable and affordable for most of the poor in this area." Dr Raj Warrier, Vice Chancellor, Manipal University, while handing over the letter of sanction to the first patient, said that the cardio thoracic surgery department of Kasturba Hospital is the centre which performed the first open heart surgery in entire Karnataka in 1970. With a new and capable surgeon —Dr Shirish Borkar— joining the cardio thoracic surgery team, it is now capable of handling all types of complicated cases. Dr Sirish Borkar, Cardio Thoracic and Vascular surgeon of Kasturba Hospital said that the advanced facilities and sophisticated equipment and highly qualified support staff made the centre comparable with any other leading centres in the country.

EH News Bureau