Kumaon’s first cardiac care unit starts operation

ALMORA: The cardiac centre at Almora’s Base Hospital has started its operations, nearly seven years after the Uttarakhand government signed a pact with a Delhi-based hospital. It is the first heart care unit in Kumaon region. Two cardiologists, two nurses and two technicians are posted at the centre round the clock.

A senior cardiac surgeon will visit the unit every fortnight for further consultation.

The centre opened after a delay of two months. A fresh MoU was signed in August by the state government, led by chief minister Harish Rawat and Dr O P Yadav, the CEO of Delhi’s National Heart Institute.

The state government developed the infrastructure and the logistics of the OPD unit, while NHI is providing technical assistance and cardiology services to patients.

In the first phase, a non-invasive OPD has started functioning in the campus of Base Hospital.
Since its start, the cardiac care unit has treated 74 OPD patients and four IPD patients.

OP Yadav, CEO and chief cardiac surgeon of NHI, told TOI that the unit is offering only outdoor patient services as of now.
“Patients requiring invasive services, including surgeries, will have to visit NHI in Delhi for further treatment,” he said.
“The centre will provide free invasive services to BPL families of Uttarakhand under central government scheme. The centre will also provide invasive services at concessional rates to other categories of people of Uttarakhand,” said Yadav.
The people of Almora heaved a sigh of relief after opening of the centre.

“This is a great news. Since it offers round-the-clock services, patients suffering from heart attacks at nights can avail emergency services. People from across the hills of Kumaon, including Bageshwar and Pithoragarh, will come to Almora to avail cardiac care facilities,” said Neelam Joshi, whose father has been undergoing cardiac treatment at a private hospital in Haldwani.