Karnataka Govt to help poor with heart surgeries

A memorandum of understanding has been signed between the state Government, three private charitable trusts and a Government as well as private hospital respectively to help poor patients undergo heart procedures like angiogram tests and angioplasty.

The decision was reportedly taken after the Governor realised during his Janata Darshan open houses with the public that a large number of people were approaching him with requests for medical help.

8220;Quite a few people, including women and children, with heart-related problems have been coming to these Janata Darshans seeking help. They mostly belong to the economically weaker sections of society. The cost of treating heart-related problems being rather high and in most cases beyond the reach of these people, the Governor strongly felt that they needed to be given relief,8221; the state Government said on Monday.

While the first heart surgery was facilitated on December 22, seven others have been cleared. Another 53 applications for relief are pending and will be processed soon.