Nishal Mohammed

Port Blair, March 24: Dr CS Muthukumaran, a leading pediatric and adult congenital cardiologist at Apollo Hospitals, Chennai, tackles the alarming epidemic of heart disease among children in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. We have announced a pioneering initiative aimed at achieving this goal. Dr. Muthukumaran announced plans to address the urgent need for specialized medical care in the region by conducting regular camps and providing essential cardiac interventions with a focus on early detection and treatment.

Dr CS Muthukumaran, Consultant Pediatric and Adult Congenital Cardiologist at Apollo Hospitals, Chennai, shed light on the alarming prevalence of heart disease among children in India, especially in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Dr. Muthukumaran told reporters that eight out of every 1,000 children born in the country are diagnosed with heart disease. This statistic highlights the urgent need for accessible and effective medical interventions for affected children.

The lack of specialized treatment facilities in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands forces many patients to travel to the mainland for surgery, further increasing the strain on families and medical resources. To address this critical issue, Dr. Muthukumaran announced a comprehensive program to provide essential cardiac care to children in the region.

Under this initiative, Dr. Muthukumaran and his team at Apollo Clinic will conduct regular camps every two months and provide consultations and free health check-ups. Patients who require surgery or intervention are referred to Apollo Children’s Hospital, Chennai. Patients can receive support under the Ayushman Bharat scheme, where the government covers the cost of treatment. And patients who can pay for the procedure themselves will be charged the regular rate, he said.

Dr. Muthukumaran emphasized the importance of early intervention and emphasized the importance of early identification of heart disease in children. He outlined that there are two types of heart surgery available, open heart surgery and minimally invasive surgery, both of which have high success rates.

In addition to providing immediate medical assistance, Dr. Muthukumaran aims to work with the Andaman and Nicobar administration to integrate cardiac care into the existing health system and ensure comprehensive insurance coverage for all residents. .