BPL patients can avail free cardiac care at Sadar hosp cath lab soon
Ranchi: Preparations are underway for setting up a cardiac catheterisation laboratory (cath lab) at Sadar hospital in Ranchi. According to the state health department, the technical bid process is complete, and the facility will soon take shape at an estimated cost of Rs 8 crore.
While a major portion of the amount will be spent on machines and medical equipment, around Rs 40 lakh has been allocated for staff and Rs 60 lakh for essential consumables.
A cath lab is a specialised imaging facility where doctors use minimally invasive procedures to diagnose and treat heart conditions. These labs employ advanced imaging techniques to give doctors a real-time view of coronary arteries and cardiac functions, enabling accurate treatment without open-heart surgery.
The cath lab will provide critical cardiac services such as angiography, angioplasty, stenting, pacemaker implantation, and valve repair.
Officials said patients would no longer have to depend solely on the Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (Rims) for advanced cardiac procedures.
The fourth floor of the hospital has been marked for the lab, where two adjoining rooms will be integrated to create the specialised unit. Construction will begin after the tender process is finalised.
Sadar hospital management said that the cath lab will provide free treatment for patients covered under BPL and Ayushman Bharat Yojana, while general patients will have to pay nominal charges.
Civil surgeon Dr Prabhat Kumar said, "We are committed to ensuring that no patient is deprived of life-saving cardiac treatment due to financial reasons. This initiative will provide world-class cardiac care within the reach of the poor."
"With the establishment of the cath lab at Sadar hospital, the district will have its second govt-run advanced cardiac care unit after Rims. This will not only reduce the patient load at Rims but also ensure that heart patients in the city and nearby districts get immediate treatment," he added.