STEMI programme detects more than 3,500 critical heart patients in Pune, Solapur

The state had started this initiative to curb mortalities caused by cardiovascular diseases. The STEMI programme in Maharashtra has been implemented in 12 districts which comprise 38 hubs (government and private-owned cath lab facilities) and 145 spokes-district hospitals, sub-district hospitals and rural hospitals) as sites for STEMI implementation.

In Pune district, the STEMI-MH project operates on a unique hubs and spokes model that equips government rural health care centres (spokes) with CATH lab facilities as hubs. A patient who goes to a government rural health centre (spoke) for an ECG is automatically connected to a hub which is a tertiary level Cath Lab facility – which can be 50-100 kms away. Once the ECG is done, the report is uploaded on Cloud through a state appointed agency Tricog in Bengaluru, which then connects with a group of doctors who diagnose, read and interpret the report. The findings are also sent to the hub (cath lab facility where intervention is then commenced). The turnaround time is less than ten minutes.

In STEMI – coronary arteries are completely blocked cutting off the flow of blood to a section of the heart. This is a life-threatening condition and thrombolysis therapy is equally effective as primary angioplasty in semi-urban and rural areas where angioplasty is not readily available. “By thrombolysis (dissolving blood clots) in patients within the 12-hour window, another 24 hours can be gained for an angiogram/angioplasty procedure,” Dr Pawar said.

Maharashtra has formulated a protocol and coordinated to deliver an effective, positive outcome-oriented Guideline Directed Therapy along with a heart attack management kit, Dr Pawar added.

Across 12 districts in Maharashtra, more than six lakh patients were screened and over 18,000 critical cases of STEMI were detected.

State health officials said that the project is set to be implemented across all state districts up to PHC level, as per STEMI guidelines 2022. Recently this year state health minister Tanaji Sawant also visited the Pandharpur health camp where pilgrims were screened and critical patients were transferred to the nearby hub for further intervention.