the goan I network
PANAJI
The statewide ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction (STEMI) Programme of the Goa government which will aim to provide emergency care for patients suffering from STEMI (serious) heart attacks will be launched on December 15, Health Minister Vishwajit Rane informed media persons after a
meeting with the Health Secretary and various officials from the Goa Medical College and Hospital (GMC) on Monday.
Goa will be the first state in the country to have this programme, said Rane.
Under the programme, doctors will be trained to thrombolyse patients who suffered from heart attacks in the golden hour.
The golden hour is the first hour after the onset of heart attack, during which, if appropriate action is taken, can reverse the effects of the heart attack.
“Around 200 people a month suffer from heart attacks, and under the STEMI programme, we want to try and lessen the damage caused to the heart, and try and increase the patient’s life span,” explained Rane.
“Under the programme, we will train doctors at the Primary Health Centers (PHCs) to thrombolyse patients who have had a
heart attack, and then shift them to either the GMC, Victor Hospital in Margao, or Healthway Hospital in Old Goa for further treatment,” he said.
“Dedicated cardiac ambulances will take patients to Primary Health Centers and Community Health Centers where trained doctors will thrombolyse and stabilise a patient. The patient will then be shifted to one of the three big hospitals based on consent of the patient,” Rane explained.
Further, within the next five months, the government aims to extend this facility to those who suffer a stroke.
GVK EMRI, which runs the ambulance service in the state, will also have a tie up with these hospitals under this programme.
Dr Guruprasad Naik, who heads the cardiology department at GMC, has been appointed as the Medical Director of the programme.
