India is emerging as a global hub for advanced structural heart interventions with ‘Make in India’ revolutionary therapy, cost-effective access, skilled specialists, and growing awareness, according to experts. Four leading specialists from Heart Valve Experts (HVE) under HVS Hospitals, Mumbai highlighted the transformative potential of minimally invasive structural heart therapies of valvular regurgitation (Leak in valves) such as Myclip for high-risk cardiac patients who are unsuitable for conventional open-heart surgery or bypass procedures.
Speaking to the media in New Delhi after attending a high-level scientific conference on Minimally Invasive Structural Heart Solutions, the experts said India is steadily emerging as one of the key global destinations for advanced structural heart care alongside the United States and China.
The interaction was addressed by interventional cardiologists Dr Ankur Phatarpekar, Dr Meghav Shah, Dr Amit Gangwani and cardiac anesthetist Dr Gourish Shinde from HVE under HVS Hospitals.
The doctors explained that Myclip therapy is designed for selected patients suffering from severe mitral valve regurgitation. This is a condition where the heart valve leaks significantly, leading to breathlessness, fatigue, swelling and progressive heart failure. Many such patients are considered too high-risk for open-heart surgery because of advanced age, weak heart function or multiple medical complications.
Referring to the evolution of structural heart interventions in India, the experts pointed out that while the procedure had been available at select Centres of Excellence since 2018 using imported high-cost technologies from the United States, affordability remained a major challenge.
Dr Phatarpekar emphasised that patient selection remains the most critical aspect of such therapies. “We do not recommend Myclip procedures for patients who are suitable candidates for conventional surgery. These interventions are specifically meant for carefully evaluated high-risk patients where surgical risk is extremely high. Proper imaging, TEE screening and multidisciplinary assessment are essential before proceeding.”
“India witnessed a significant turning point in 2024 when indigenous manufacturing efforts, including the introduction of comparatively affordable clip technologies by an Indian company, began expanding access to advanced structural heart therapies and our team was the first to do First in human (FIH) studies,” said Dr Shah.
Dr Gangwani added that minimally invasive valve repair therapies are offering a new lease of life to patients who previously had very limited treatment options. “These procedures are helping restore functional capacity, reduce hospitalizations and improve quality of life in carefully selected patients,” he said.
Highlighting one of the cases managed at HVS Hospitals, the team shared the story of a 44-year-old patient whose heart function had deteriorated to nearly 10 per cent. The patient had lost hope after prolonged illness and severe cardiac complications. A multidisciplinary team led by Dr Shah, Dr Phatarpekar, Dr Gangwani and Dr Shinde successfully performed the clipping procedure to address severe valve leakage.
“Today, the patient is leading an active and near-normal life. Such outcomes demonstrate the potential of structural heart therapies when timely diagnosis, imaging and team-based expertise come together,” said Dr Gangwani.
The doctors also cited another recent case involving a senior corporate executive who had undergone prolonged treatment elsewhere with limited improvement. After learning about the procedure through a healthcare professional, the patient approached HVS Hospitals, where the structural heart team successfully performed the intervention last week. The patient is currently recovering well.
Cardiac anesthetist Dr Shinde underlined the importance of advanced imaging and peri-procedural precision in ensuring patient safety and procedural success.
“These procedures require meticulous coordination between interventional cardiologists, cardiac imaging experts and anesthetists. Technological advancements are helping improve procedural accuracy and outcomes significantly,” he said.
The experts from HVE under HVS Hospitals noted that although awareness about structural heart therapies remains relatively low among the general public, India has the potential to become a major global hub for medical value travel in this field.
“Compared to the United States, these procedures can be nearly ten times more affordable in India while maintaining global-quality expertise and infrastructure at specialised Centres of Excellence, including HVS Hospitals,” the experts said.
They added that as more Indian manufacturers enter the segment and awareness improves among clinicians and patients, costs are expected to decline further, potentially making advanced structural heart therapies accessible to a much larger patient population in the coming years.
According to the doctors, the future of structural heart care in India will depend on greater awareness, earlier diagnosis, specialised training and the development of integrated cardiac centres like HVS and HVE capable of delivering comprehensive multidisciplinary care under one roof.