Karnataka's contribution to the field of cardiology is commendable. Three leading cardiologists in the country who are all Padma Shri awardees are from Bengaluru.
Dr CNManjunath, director, Jayadeva Institute of Cardiac Sciences, Dr Devi Prasad Shetty, Chairman and Senior Consultant Cardiac Surgeon, Narayana Group of Hospitals and Dr B Ramana Rao who runs a clinic at T Begur are all recipients of several awards including Padma Shri.
Dr Rao says he has treated at least 1.9 million patients free of cost. Come Sunday and his clinic is flooded with patients. Located at T Begur, 35 km from Bengaluru, he runs a centre where 800-1,000 patients are treated free of cost every Sunday.
Medicines, injections, nebulisation and even food are provided free of cost.
Prominent among the awards he has received are the Padma Shri in 2010, Dr Abdul Kalam National Award and the Karnataka Rajyotsava Award. "Blessed are we to have several cardiologists here. Karnataka should have more cardiac care centres in the periphery to ensure that none are denied treatment." Dr Rao says.
Jayadeva Institute of Cardio Vascular Sciences is where most poor patients go for treatment. Under Dr Manjunath's leadership, over four lakh outpatients were attended to in the last few years. The hospital also holds a record for conducting the highest number of cathlab procedures, mitral valvuloplasties, angioplasties and echo cardiograms. "Giving importance to new technologies is important. However, what the country needs now is better primary health care. Every patient must be given quality healthcare at affordable cost," Dr Manjunath said. He had mobilised Rs 25 crore for the poor patient fund at the hospital.
Dr Shetty is yet another doctor who put Karnataka on the world map. Dr Shetty and his team have performed over 1.19 lakh major heart surgeries out of which 40% are pediatric and neonatal. He also conceptualised a micro health insurance scheme to make surgeries affordable to the rural families.
The contribution of Dr Vivek Jawali, Chairman, Fortis Hospitals, Bengaluru is also commendable. A pioneer in minimally invasive cardiac surgery in India, he has performed over 18,000 cardiothoracic and vascular surgeries till date.
He performed the country's first beating heart bypass surgery, minimally invasive bypass surgery, an awake cardiac surgery (surgery without ventilator, done under continuous high thoracic epidural) and an awake open heart surgery on a 74-year-old patient.