PORVORIM: The govt has been proposed to expand STEMI (ST segment elevation myocardial infraction) across Goa. Health Minister Vishwajit Rane also added that the cardiac ambulance for Sanquelim constituency will also cater to adjoining areas too.

“In the next six months, we need another eight centres of STEMI in Goa. It is an initiative that has saved many lives so far. We are also adding one cardiac ambulance in Sanquelim, which will also catesr to health-related patients in the taluka of Bicholim, being closer to Sanquelim,” said , while replying to a Calling Attention Motion tabled by BJP MLA Pravin Zantye on the problems faced by some Bicholim people suffering from heart problems.

The State-wide programme, which is the first of its kind in the country, was launched last year that allows advanced diagnoses of cardiovascular diseases and care coordination for heart attacks to be done in a manner of minutes using a cloud connected ECG machine. It enables rapid diagnoses of the problem across all the govt centres in the State.

Zantye said that owing to connectivity issue, about 4-5 patients from his constituency have died in absence of quick medical help. “What steps will the govt take to withdraw the circular and shift serious patients from Mayem and surrounding areas to the well-equipped GMC for heart patients by using the ferry services and save their lives?” said Zantye.

Rane assured the House that there is “no hard and fast rule” to follow the PHC, District Hospital and GMC line-up. He also sought details of the 22 patients from Bicholim suffering from heart related problems in order to assess these on case-to-case basis. “Instructions are given to assess the patients on case to case basis and accordingly take them directly to GMC via ferry at Ribandar,” his reply states.

“Such incidents will not occur again,” he said referring to the plight of Bicholim patients. Rane has also proposed upgrading the ambulance services.