New Delhi: AIIMS nurses to counsel heart patients

Senior doctors at the premier institute also said that depending on its success, this model would gradually be expanded to other central hospitals.

"We are training a group of nurses in imparting counselling and education regarding heart ailments to those patients who have been treated at AIIMS. At any point of time, four nurses will be taking calls from these people and guide them accordingly.

"We have purchased four simple handsets and pre-paid SIM cards, and these four numbers would together become the helpline. It would be launched next week," Professor at Department of Cardiology, AIIMS, Dr Sandeep Seth, told reporters here.

Heart failure is one of the major problems in the country with an estimated burden of about one crore or nearly one per cent of the population. It is a condition in which the heart cannot pump blood around the body effectively and properly. Heart attack, hypertension and obesity are some of the major causes for the condition.

"It is an infrastructure-less model, meaning there would be no physical room for helpline. Four trained nurses on duty would be handling the calls. To begin with, a limited number of patients would be give the number, so that the calls are manageable," he said.