Maharashtra to perform 825 cardiac surgeries on children

"The surgeries would be performed on over 800 children suffering from cardiac problems by the Health Department," Public Health Minister Suresh Shetty told PTI.

The children are from backward Vidarbha region and they will be brought into the city for the surgeries. The Government has roped in four to five private hospitals for the operations, Shetty said.

The cost of the operation is very high in the private hospitals and therefore the Government is bearing it along with travel and stay expenses of the children's parents.

"We will be doing expenses for operations as well as travel and stay for the parents considering their weak financial condition," the minister said.

The hospitals would perform 10 surgeries per day from January first week. The Health Department is also keen on clearing backlog of surgeries the area.