While the cost of this surgery in a private hospital is approximately 2 lakh. While the financially well-off can afford treatments and surgeries, the underprivileged are left out.
cardiovascular diseases are a leading cause of death in India. According to a study in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, in the last 26 years (1990 -2016) their rate increased by 34%.
Additionally, an estimated 62.5 million Indians lost their lives to these diseases in 2016.While the financially well-off can afford treatments and surgeries, the underprivileged are left out.Disturbed by these statistics, Dr Kiron Varghese, the head of Cardiology at St John’s Medical College and Hospital in Bengaluru, decided that something needed to be done.
His main motive was to give quality healthcare to the weaker sections of the society, without decimating their life savings.
So, he decided to help 30 underprivileged people get the expensive angioplasty surgery for free.“I have been wanting to treat the poor [for] free as they can’t afford the prohibitive cost of quality treatment,” the 59-year-old doctor told the IANS.
He asked his friends and family to contribute to his cause and has raised enough money to perform these surgeries.So, he decided to help 30 underprivileged people get the expensive angioplasty surgery for free.
“I have been wanting to treat the poor [for] free as they can’t afford the prohibitive cost of quality treatment,” the 59-year-old doctor told the IANS.
He asked his friends and family to contribute to his cause and has raised enough money to perform these surgeries.
“As only a limited number of surgeries can be performed with the funds raised, younger patients and breadwinners of their families will get preference for the surgery,” he added, speaking to the New Indian Express.
A screening process has been initiated to prioritise patients according to the urgency of their condition.
“As only a limited number of surgeries can be performed with the funds raised, younger patients and breadwinners of their families will get preference for the surgery,” he added, speaking to the New Indian Express.
A screening process has been initiated to prioritise patients according to the urgency of their condition.
Article Credit : better India