A cardiac cath lab being built at the Pandit Bhimsen Joshi Government Hospital in Bhayandar West is in its final stage and is expected to begin operations before December, according to a report by Loksatta – Vasai-Virar. The facility is planned to provide free diagnosis, treatment and surgery for several heart conditions, including blocked arteries in adults and holes in the hearts of children.
The new centre is being developed as a separate facility within the hospital premises. Its building has been constructed near the main entrance because patients suffering a heart attack require immediate access to treatment, the report said. The project received approval in March 2024.
According to Dr Jafar Tadvi, the hospital’s superintendent and surgeon, the civil and electrical work for the cath lab has been completed. Equipment installation has also been completed, while a 10-bed intensive care unit has been prepared for patients requiring close monitoring after treatment.
Four nurses have completed training at Mumbai’s J.J. Hospital. A proposal has also been sent to the health department for the appointment of doctors, technicians and other medical staff required to operate the centre, Dr Tadvi said, according to the report.
The planned facility will offer angiography and angioplasty, along with other cardiac treatments. It will also provide examination and treatment for holes in children’s hearts. The services are expected to be available without charge, including costly cardiac procedures for economically weaker patients.
The hospital has 200 beds and currently provides treatment for a limited range of illnesses, although it receives a large number of patients. Various facilities have been added or developed over the past few years to expand its treatment capacity. The cardiac centre is part of that expansion.
The facility could serve patients from Mira-Bhayandar as well as people who currently travel towards Mumbai or Gujarat for cardiac treatment, the report said. Its effect will depend on the appointment of the remaining medical and technical staff and the start of operations.
The next stated milestone is the proposed launch of the cardiac cath lab before December, subject to completion of staffing and operational preparations by the health department and hospital authorities.
