Bhubaneswar: Heart patients belonging to weaker section of society in the state had reason to cheer when the state government Sunday signed a memorandum of understanding with the Rajkot Heart Hospital Trust to bear the cost of their travel expenses to a hospital run by the latter for free surgeries.
Besides, Sunday also saw the launch of an app –Dil Without Bill — in which people can upload their medical report and send it to Sri Sathya Sai Heart Hospital for guidance and his/her future course of treatment.
The MoU and the launch of the app came at a free heart diagnosis camp inaugurated by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik at Kharavela Nagar here.
The camp was organised jointly by Shri Sathya Sai Seva Sangathan, Sri Sathya Sai Heart Hospital of Rajkot in Gujarat and the Prashanti Medical Services and Research Foundation. Orissa High Court Chief Justice Kalpesh Jhaveri graced the inaugural ceremony.
More than 1200 heart patients from in and around Odisha were screened and diagnosed in the camp. Free surgeries will be provided at Rajkot and Ahmedabad heart hospitals in Gujarat.
The managing trustee of Sri Sathya Sai Heart Hospital, Manoj Bhamani, said Sunday’s was the second such camp. He said the MoU also provided for 1000 children from Odisha to be taken to Gujarat for free surgeries in phases. “In the first camp, we have already treated 137 patients. We hope that this takes Odisha and Gujarat’s relations to the next level.”
On the app, he said, “ Within 72 hours, the patient will receive guidance and his/her future course of treatment can be decided without the person having to come all the way to the health camp.”
In his address earlier, the Chief Minister appreciated the organisers for holding the camp. “I am informed that poor patients will be screened at this camp and their heart surgery will be conducted at Sri Sathya Sai Heart Hospital at Rajkot free of cost. I appreciate this social outreach of the organisation,” he said. He said that this endeavour will certainly bring smiles on the faces of many people, especially children with heart disorders and their families.
He also spoke about the government’s initiatives in the health sector.