A new cardiac cath lab at Pandit Bhimsen Joshi Government Hospital in Bhayandar West is in the final stage of preparation and is expected to begin operations before December, offering free cardiac treatment and surgery to eligible patients.
The facility will provide angiography, angioplasty and other cardiac procedures. It will also assess and treat holes in children’s hearts, according to information provided by the hospital superintendent and surgeon, Dr Jafar Tadvi. Treatment for blockages in adults’ blood vessels is also planned at the centre.
The cath lab has been established in a separate building near the hospital’s entrance. The location is intended to enable quicker access for patients suffering a heart attack, for whom timely treatment is critical. The civil and electrical work at the facility has been completed, and the medical equipment has been installed, Dr Tadvi said.
The hospital has also prepared a 10-bed intensive care unit for the cardiac centre. Four nurses have completed training at JJ Hospital. A proposal seeking the appointment of doctors, technicians and other medical staff has been sent to the health department, according to the hospital administration.
Approval for the cardiac cath lab was granted in March 2024, after which the separate building was constructed within the hospital premises. The planned launch will expand the range of services available at the 200-bed hospital, which currently treats a limited number of conditions despite receiving a large number of patients.
The cardiac facility is part of wider efforts undertaken over the past several years to increase the hospital’s treatment capacity. Once operational, it is expected to serve patients from Mira-Bhayandar as well as people travelling from Mumbai and areas towards Gujarat for cardiac care.
The hospital administration said free treatment would be particularly significant for economically weaker patients who may otherwise face the high cost of cardiac procedures. The centre’s operations will depend on the completion of staff appointments and the remaining administrative steps before services begin.
