PANAJI
Minister for Health Vishwajit Rane launched the STEMI Goa project at a function organised by Goa Medical College and Hospital, Bambolim in association with the Directorate of Health Services Panjim and GVK EMRI on Saturday.
Speaking on the occasion, Rane said, "These are innovative steps that will help us achieve our mission of saving life. It is a proud moment for us as a small state to be implementing the STEMI project here."
Goa will be the first state to implement the STEMI project which makes use of technology to reduce the time taken for cardiac intervention.
Addressing the gathering, Health Secretary J Ashok Kumar said, "With the launch of STEMI, Goa is stepping into a major milestone."
Dr Guruprasad Naik, Medical Director, STEMI Goa also briefed about the project.
Keeping in line with the aims and objectives of Ayushman Bharat, the STEMI-Goa project aims at taking the best health practices and modern technology to all parts of the state so as to benefit the rich and poor alike.
According to senior physician Dr Edward D'Mello, coronary heart diseases, especially ST elevation Myocardial Infarction (STEMI or heart attack) is a leading cause of mortality globally and in India. Under the programme, doctors will be trained to thrombolyse patients who suffered from heart attacks in the golden hour. 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
Added Rane, "There is a need to build state-of-the-art facilities in the area of health care. A super-specialty hospital is coming up soon and this will create job opportunities for students in the state."
"The Department of Cardiology at GMC has been expanded to seven cardiologists from the initial three. Medical officers from selected STEMI sites under the Directorate of Health Services have also been trained in the latest guidelines and on STEMI project implementation," he informed.
Under the programme, the government is also providing newer thrombolytic drugs to treat STEMI which are more efficacious, safer and easier to use. These drugs will be provided free of cost to all patients by the Government of Goa.
Also present on the occasion were Dr Rajnanada Dessai, OSD to Health Minister, Dr Pradip Naik, dean of Goa Medical College, Dr Ida De Noronha de Ataide, dean of Goa Dental College, Dr Shivanand Bandekar, Medical Superintendent, Dr Shirish Borkar, HOD of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery, Dr Charit Bhograj, CEO Tricog Health Services, Dr Prathamesh Naik, President GARD,GMC, Purthi Patkar, Operation Head EMRI, Dr Virendra Gaonkar, Director, Healthway and Dr Victor Albuquerque, Director, Victor Hospital.
Dr Sanjeev Dalvi, Director, Directorate of Health Services welcomed the gathering while Dr Radha Valaulikar, State Epidemiologist NPCDCS proposed the vote of thanks.
