JOIN USJayadeva unit set to heal hearts
This was informed to the media in the city on Wednesday by Director of the Institute Dr C N Manjunath.
The director was happy to note that the facility was created in record nine months time, at the cost of Rs eight crore. Explaining about the facilities available, he said, it is a 75 bed super speciality hospital performing angioplasty, balloon mitral valvuoloplasty among other surgeries, diagnostic tests such as treadmill, ECG, echo, x-ray, a well equipped cathlab, ICCU with in-patient and out-patient facilities. A trial run was conducted three days ago and three patients successfully underwent angioplasty. Facilities to conduct open-heart surgery will also be created in one-and-a-half years, he added.
Master health check-up facility is offered at Rs 1,500 and it includes x-ray, echo, treadmill and allied tests. The report can be delivered within two hours. The institute has been practicing ‘treatment first’ concept and will not wait till the payment is made, Dr Manjunath promised. This apart different programmes under which treatment is available at the institute in Bangalore is extended to Mysore unit also. Medical assistance to people covered under Yeshaswini Scheme, Hrudaya Sanjeevini for BPL card holders and economically weaker families is being provided. In the latter programme, the government will fund up to Rs 70,000. For the benefit of scheduled caste patients hailing from poor economical background, Dr B R Ambedkar Medical Aid Foundation New Delhi will bear the cost. The criterion for the same is, income and caste certificate, bearing the signature of either MP, district judge or surgeon should be produced. According to the foundation, all procedures should be documented in English.
However, after having talks with the authorities concerned, it has been made easy for Karnataka candidates. Those applications in Kannada and signed by Dr C N Manjunath in the capacity of director of the institute will be deemed as eligible for the facility. Dr Manjunath said people who want to contribute in terms of philanthropy, can also donate to aid treatment of the needy. The Bangalore institute has received Rs 20 crore in the form of donation in 2009 under Poor Patients Corpus Fund.
To know the feedback, the institute has been conducting patients satisfactory survey from the past three years. It is encouraging with 97 per cent of the patients expressing satisfaction about the treatment. It also helped in finding out that 10 per cent of the patients were unable to afford medicines and steps have been taken to help such patients. The health tourism has improved with foreign nationals and people from other States preferring treatment at Jayadeva. Three from Srilanka and two from Pakistan are scheduled to arrive next month. Answering a question, Manjunath said, plans are on the anvil to start another unit at Shimoga.
Dr Sadananda, Dr Harsha Basappa, Dr Hema and Dr Bharathi were present.
Alarming
In the year 1960, the number of heart attacks recorded stood at mere two percent. Now, after 50 years, it has touched 12 pc. If the same speed continues, the cases will increase manifold by 2020, said Dr Manjunath quoting a report by World Health Organisation (WHO). He attributed it to various factors such as smoking, pressure, diabetes and several other habits and health disorders. He fretted about increasing heart related diseases among youngsters. He gave an example of a 21-year-old engineering student who suffered heart attack. Among 2,000 heart patients, 25 pc are below 40 years of age, he added. Manjunath said, in the month of October, the hospital here will be hosting Indo-American Angioplasty Workshop. About 50 patients from economically weak background will be treated during the period, said Manjunath.