Team Herald
PANJIM: Entire State of Goa will be covered under ambitious STEMI programme to save lives of patients suffering from heart attack by August 15, this year, Health Minister Vishwajit Rane said.
STEMI (ST segment elevation myocardial infarction) program was launched in Goa last year under which the patients suffering from heart attacks are thrombolysed before bringing them to the hospital, due to which their lives are saved.
Rane informed reporters that the lives of over 260 patients were saved since the rolling out of STEMI program by State Health Department in December last year.
“We have covered almost all the parts of Goa except five health centres, which would be covered before August 15. Once that happens, Goa will be first state in the country to have entire coverage for STEMI programme,” the minister said.
Rane said the whole concept of STEMI came from the fact that the people in rural Goa were having problems when anyone used to suffer heart attack.
“It was becoming difficult to save lives. When we drew a protocol, we thought of this facility. It was decided that this facility should not be only restricted to the urban areas where people can access healthcare but also to far flung areas,” he added.
Rane said that after introduction of the program, the medical officers have been successful in thrombolysing the patients before they are brought to the hospital.
“The programme adopted by Goa is recognised internationally and people are interested in knowing about it,” he said. The minister said the facility would be extended to each and every primary and community health centre in the State.
