Odisha: Second Cath lab to be set up in a month at SCB Medical College and Hospital

Cuttack: Srirama Chandra Bhanja (SCB) Medical College and Hospital to get its second catheterization lab (cath lab) in a month. The lab has been planned to be located in the department of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery (CTVS) at the hospital. 

A cath lab is an examination room where tests and procedures including ablation, angiogram, angioplasty, and implantation of pacemakers / ICDs are carried out.

The installation of a second cath lab at a cost of 3 crores was proposed four years ago by MCH considering the rise in the footfall of the heart patients, as many as10 patients are allowed to use the lab at a given point of time in a day while other patients have to wait for a longer period.

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Calculating the number of persons using a cath lab per month has been around 250 to 300 heart patients. Over 30 lakh Indians die due to cardiovascular disease or heart disease every year. There are only 1400 such cath labs existing in the country as per 2018 data across 140 cities.

Odisha State Medical Corporation Limited (OSMCL) earlier had to cancel an issued tender due to a single firm participating to make the cath lab. Now Phillips company is going to make the cath lab for the hospital as it was selected in the second tender released by OSMCL.

Odisha State Medical Corporation Limited (OSMCL) has been incorporated on 8th November 2013 under the Companies Act., 1956, in pursuance of the Government Resolution No. 8844 dated 26th June 2013, to act as an independent procurement agency for the Department of Health and Family Welfare, Government of Odisha. The OSMCL has key functions like timely procurement of quality medicines, surgical, equipment, instruments, furniture, etc. through a fair, transparent, and competitive bidding process.

Also read- Operation Of Cath Lab During Covid 19 Pandemic

While speaking with TNEI, Prof Manoj Patnaik, Head of the CTVS department said "The technical team of Phillips company has inspected and taken stock of the infrastructure for setting up the second cath lab. A high-end machine is being procured from Holland for setting up a second cath lab on the third floor of the department's building."

According to him, the setting up of the second cath lab will decrease the pressure on the first old cath lab as it had taken quite a load during the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Additionally, it will help perform other procedures such as electrophysiological studies (EP studies) to evaluate the heart's electrical system and to detect abnormal heart rhythms," he said.

Also read- Haryana Health Minister Calls For Proper Plan To Bring Cath Lab Facility For Cardiac Treatment