- News>
- Newspapers
The real noor behind healing hearts: The Times of India
New Delhi, July 27: Pakistani baby Noor Fatima might be its most famous patient and her surgery the most publicised of its activities, but the Narayan Hrudayalaya hospital in Bangalore has bigger milestones to its credit.
New Delhi, July 27: Pakistani baby Noor Fatima might be its most famous patient and her surgery the most publicised of its activities, but the Narayan Hrudayalaya hospital in Bangalore has bigger milestones to its credit.
Take, for instance, telemedicine centres. There is a string of such centres in tribal areas of Karnataka and one in Malaysia run by Narayan Hrudayalaya. The doctors diagnose after interacting with their patients in remote places through satellite. Coming up next is another telemedicine centre in Tanzania.
"We have trained a young Tanzanian doctor for cardiology. Another two doctors for diabetes and pediatrics will be trained soon," says Devi Shetty, Managing Director, Narayan Hrudayalaya.
With 280 beds at present, Hrudayalaya wants to grow into the largest heart hospitals in the world. Its faculty offers specialty and super specialty services, 60 per cent of which are free or subsidised, making it a haven for those who cannot afford a prohibitive heart surgery. Understandably, it`s a much favoured destination for south Asians. Shetty says 30 per cent of the patients are foreigners and a bulk is from Nepal and Bangladesh. Every child with a heart problem in Mauritius is treated at Hrudayalaya. Shetty’s team has treated 7,000 patients from all over the world in the last two years. "If a child needs surgery within a month, we never say no, whether the parents can afford it or not."
Shetty is upbeat about the proposal to treat British patients on long waiting lists on the UK government`s National Health Scheme in India. "The revenues we get from there will offset the cost of free treatment." The doctor is not hopeful of the proposal coming through, since it is a political decision, but says a delegation of the Confederation of Indian Industry will hold talks with American insurance companies to treat their clients in India. "The insurance companies will dictate terms. Ultimately, economic reality will prevail. After all, an operation that costs $65,000 in Europe costs $2000 dollars here," he added.
Shetty dismisses the debate over British citizens adding to the waiting lists here. He says Indian heart hospitals can handle up to 10 times their present traffic with just a little investment. "At our hospital, we do more surgeries than are done in the whole of Singapore." Another achievement for the hospital has been the health insurance scheme for 17 lakh farmers in Karnataka in partnership with the state government. Under the project, a farmer pays Rs 5 for insurance cover.
"We have trained a young Tanzanian doctor for cardiology. Another two doctors for diabetes and pediatrics will be trained soon," says Devi Shetty, Managing Director, Narayan Hrudayalaya.
With 280 beds at present, Hrudayalaya wants to grow into the largest heart hospitals in the world. Its faculty offers specialty and super specialty services, 60 per cent of which are free or subsidised, making it a haven for those who cannot afford a prohibitive heart surgery. Understandably, it`s a much favoured destination for south Asians. Shetty says 30 per cent of the patients are foreigners and a bulk is from Nepal and Bangladesh. Every child with a heart problem in Mauritius is treated at Hrudayalaya. Shetty’s team has treated 7,000 patients from all over the world in the last two years. "If a child needs surgery within a month, we never say no, whether the parents can afford it or not."
Shetty is upbeat about the proposal to treat British patients on long waiting lists on the UK government`s National Health Scheme in India. "The revenues we get from there will offset the cost of free treatment." The doctor is not hopeful of the proposal coming through, since it is a political decision, but says a delegation of the Confederation of Indian Industry will hold talks with American insurance companies to treat their clients in India. "The insurance companies will dictate terms. Ultimately, economic reality will prevail. After all, an operation that costs $65,000 in Europe costs $2000 dollars here," he added.
Shetty dismisses the debate over British citizens adding to the waiting lists here. He says Indian heart hospitals can handle up to 10 times their present traffic with just a little investment. "At our hospital, we do more surgeries than are done in the whole of Singapore." Another achievement for the hospital has been the health insurance scheme for 17 lakh farmers in Karnataka in partnership with the state government. Under the project, a farmer pays Rs 5 for insurance cover.