41,000 children diagnosed with Congenital Heart Disease in Karnataka, data reveals - Video

Over the past three years, nearly 41,000 school-going children in Karnataka have been diagnosed with congenital heart diseases (CHD), yet less than half have received treatment. These cases were identified through the Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK) screening program, which detects heart development issues before birth, reports Deccan Herald.

Identified children are referred to tertiary care centres and treated under the Ayushman Bharat-Arogya Karnataka scheme, but tracking each case on the ground remains challenging.

To improve follow-up, the state plans to integrate pregnancy anomaly scans with newborn check-ups, making it easier for paediatricians to monitor heart conditions detected during prenatal ultrasounds. Once implemented, newborns flagged as high-risk due to CHD will receive closer medical attention. Experts emphasize the life-saving potential of early detection. While heart screening at birth is inconsistently practised in India, parental awareness is rising, with many requesting scans during pregnancy. Timely diagnosis and treatment can enable children with CHD to lead almost normal lives, spotlighting the importance of expanding cardiac screening programs across hospitals.