MoU inked in paediatric cardiology

Puducherry, Mar 21 : The Department of Health and Family welfare of the territorial administation has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Fortis Malar Hospital and Aishwarya Trust in Chennai to offer super speciality care in the field of paediatric cardiology at the Rajiv Gandhi Women and Child Hospital here.

According to an official release today, Health and Family Welfare Director K V Raman and Dr K R
Balakrishnan, Chief Consultant Cardiothoracic Surgeon, Fortis Malar Hospital signed the MoU in the presence of Chief Minister N Rangasamy yesterday.

The Puducherry Health Department plans to screen all newborns for cardiac defects in an effort to reduce infant mortality, from April 1.

The Rajiv Gandhi Women and Child Hospital alone sees 1400 deliveries a month. The outpatient department will conduct echo cardiogram for all these babies, the release said. The department proposes to sign an MoU with Abbott India and Abbott Lifecare to provide screening for hypertension, Obesity, dyslipidemia (blood cholesterol and fats) and thyroid.