ICMR project to save precious lives from heart attack to start from Sep 4

Ludhiana, September 3, 2021: In a major initiative to save precious lives from heart attack by starting treatment within golden period in Ludhiana, Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) funded project for timely intervention for heart attack would be launched in the district from September 4 under which the drug Tenecteplase use to dissolve blood clots in the heart give free of cost to the patients at 11 centers.

Divulging the details, Deputy Commissioner Varinder Kumar Sharma said that a heart attack is a condition when part of the heart muscles does not get enough oxygen and if this condition is not treated as soon as possible, it can lead to death or other fatal consequences.

He said that this project is being carried out in 12 districts of the country out of which two are in Punjab including Ludhiana where 11 spoke centers have been set up with well-equipped facilities to provide the best possible treatment for the patients suffering from heart attack within golden period. 

He said that these centers include Civil Hospital, Krishna Hospital, Pahwa Hospital, RCH Pohir, Sarabha Hospital, SDH Jagraon, SDH Payal, SDH Samrala, Life Care Hospital and SDH Macchiwara. He said that the doctors and paramedics of these hospitals have been trained at DMCH for last one-year. 

Dr Bishav Mohan from Dayanand Medical College & Hospital (DMCH) said that Coronary heart diseases, especially ST elevation Myocardial Infarction (STEMI or heart attack) are a leading cause of mortality globally and in India.  He said that with this purpose to save the precious lives, ICMR has come up with this project by increasing awareness regarding heart attacks, timely management and providing best medical facilities for rural areas.

Mohan said that these 11 centres are now ready to handle cardiac patients and after the diagnosis and initial treatment in these places for three hours, patient will be referred to higher centres for further treatment. 

He said that Tenecteplase which is the latest drug used to dissolve blood clots in the heart is usually not available at primary and secondary health care centers because of the high cost (around Rs 25000-Rs 30000) would be given free of cost in these centres. He stated that in 70% of the cases, this drug cannot be administered because of late arrival and to change the scenario, awareness about the symptoms are being created by these centres in their area. 

Further, DMCH Ludhiana, Christian Medical College & Hospital, Ludhiana and Rajindra Hospital Patiala will coordinate for the further management of these designated spoke centers or the patients undergoing treatment there can be referred to any other medical institute, he added. 

He said that a whatapp group has been created where specialists would be available for 24 hours for any kind of consultation regarding the treatment.