Cath lab, a boon for poor patients

The cath laboratory established at Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Government Hospital (MGMGH) has come as a boon to heart patients of economically weaker sections of the society.

The Rs. 3.06 crore facility, which was inaugurated by Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami through video-conferencing in June, was put into use on November 28. Since then, it is getting steady stream of visitors. Besides screening, crucial procedures such as angioplasty, angiogram are performed on patients in the laboratory.

As many as 72 patients have undergone angioplasty and angiogram during the last one month. Of them, 50 patients underwent angiogram procedure and stents were placed in 20 patients.

G. Anitha, Dean, MGMGH, said on an average two patients undergo angiogram or angioplasty in the Tiruchi GH every day. T. Balasubramanian, Head, Interventional Cardiology, said that it could cost Rs. 1.5 lakh for an angiogram in private hospitals. But, the same procedure could be done for Rs. 80,000 at the MGMCH. It was done free of cost to patients, who were covered under the Chief Mnister's Health Insurance Scheme.

Source