SILCHAR, Sept 8 - The Silchar Medical College and Hospital (SMCH) administration is taking steps to install a catheterization laboratory which is commonly known as cath lab, vital for cardiac treatment.
Dr Babul Bezbaruah, Principal of SMCH, said the process to install the cath lab is already under way with tender being floated and a few companies responding to the call as well.
"The government's approval to the visit of cardiologist Dr Rakesh Gopal from Chennai to Silchar is a welcome move under the circumstances. We understand the need for the cath lab and if everything falls in place, we hope to start operating the lab within the next four months. We are also trying to get the approval from the Srimanta Sankaradeva University of Health Sciences, Guwahati to declare Dr Gopal as a visiting faculty at the hospital," Dr Bezbaruah said.
Responding to the question regarding cardiac treatment and the need for a cath lab at SMCH, Dr Rakesh Gopal said, "Currently, there is no facility for coronary interventions in the entire region. A lot of patients across the region would benefit out of cardiac interventions with the cath lab."
Dr Gopal mentioned that angioplasty with one single stent in a corporate hospital outside the Barak Valley would cost close to Rs 3 lakh. This is only part of the cost, he said, adding that the cost of travel, accommodation, food, incidental expenses at an unknown place and loss of working hours mount as the real cost.
"If we can establish a world-class cath lab and do procedures of standard scale, we will be able to stop the exodus of patients from this region," Dr Rakesh maintained.
