Timely treatment gives new lease of life to over 7,800 patients under Puneeth Rajkumar Hrudaya Jyothi scheme

Early diagnosis and timely treatment by doctors in taluk hospitals gave a new lease of life to 7,815 patients with cardiac complications.  Of these, doctors were able to save the lives of 1,106 by administering Tenecteplase injection under the  Puneeth Rajkumar Hrudaya Jyothi scheme from March 2023 onwards in Karnataka. 

Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao said on the occasion of World Heart Day observed on September 29, the State government has announced the expansion of the scheme to all taluk hospitals across the State.  Currently, 86 hospitals at the district and taluk level are functioning as ‘spoke’ centres and ten ‘hubs’ have been created in 16 super-speciality hospitals, including Sri Jayadeva Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences and Research.

Use of AI 

Using Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology, doctors were able to categorise those screened into severe/moderate cases to detect if their condition was critical and administer the Tenecteplase injection. This injection is used to treat myocardial infractions (heart attacks) as soon as possible (usually within nine hours) after the onset of symptoms, said Raghunandan, State Deputy Director (Non-Communicable Diseases).

The State Health Department named Karnataka’s heart attack (ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction -STEMI) management project at taluk level as Puneeth Rajkumar Hrudaya Jyothi scheme in 2023. The project launched to avoid delay in providing diagnosis and treatment to heart attack patients in rural areas is being implemented on a ‘hub and spoke’ model. 

Over nine lakh ECGs

“Under this programme, since its inception in March 2023, electrocardiograms (ECGs) were conducted for 9,21,020 individuals. Of these, 13,515 STEMI cases were identified, and 7,815 patients with cardiac complications have received treatment through thrombolysis, angioplasty, stenting and Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) procedures,” Dr. Raghunandan said.

The Health Minister said anyone who has symptoms of chest pain can visit the ‘spoke’ centres and get an ECG done immediately. “Through Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology, doctors are able to detect if their condition is critical or not, within four to five minutes. If the patient is in critical condition, he/she will be administered the expensive Tenecteplase injection free of cost,” the Minister said.

“Cardiovascular diseases are emerging as a major public health concern, with the incidence of heart attacks steadily increasing across the State. The Puneeth Rajkumar Hrudaya Jyothi scheme, a flagship initiative, designed to strengthen timely cardiac care and save lives is playing a crucial role in reducing cardiac mortality and preserving thousands of lives,” he said.