Gujarat: Surat Civil Hospital launches Biplane Cath Lab, offers free angioplasty and stroke care
By Ashutosh Dhar Dubey, Surat, May 26
In a major boost to public healthcare, Surat New Civil Hospital in Gujarat has launched the state's first advanced Biplane Cath Lab under the Super Speciality Project, officials said.
Built for Rs 12 crore, the facility will provide free cardiac, neurological and vascular treatments, including angiography, angioplasty, pacemaker implantation and emergency stroke care.
Hospital authorities said procedures that usually cost up to Rs 50,000 in private hospitals will now be available free of cost for patients at the government-run facility.
Medical Superintendent of New Civil Hospital, Dr Dharitri Parmar, said the advanced system would help doctors quickly identify and treat stroke cases.
"When a stroke occurs, a nerve in the brain gets obstructed. As the nerve gets obstructed, the peripheral part of the body stops functioning. MRI can identify it, or the Cath Lab machine can identify the site and treat it. These services usually cost around Rs 50,000 in the market. Today, in New Civil Hospital, we have made it available for free through the Tertiary Care Hospital," Parmar told ANI.
Doctors said the advanced biplane imaging system improves precision, reduces complications and supports minimally invasive procedures.
Interventional Radiologist Dr Hiren Rathod said the machine enables treatment of several vascular conditions without the need for open surgery.
"This is a very advanced machine. In cases of heart problems, we perform angioplasty and stenting procedures. Certain conditions can now be treated without open-heart surgery. Through minimally invasive, percutaneous procedures, we can access the nerves and blood vessels through the skin," Rathod said.
"If there is any issue in the blood vessels of the legs, hands, or other parts of the body, we can reach those areas internally. In cases where there is a rupture or bleeding in the vessels, we can stop the bleeding. If the vessels are blocked, we can perform balloon angioplasty or place stents to restore blood flow," he added.
Officials said initial procedures have already begun under the Neurology and Radiology departments.
— ANI
Reader Comments
As someone from abroad following Indian healthcare developments, this is impressive. In many Western countries, even basic cardiac care can be slow and expensive. A free, advanced cath lab in a public hospital is something we could learn from. Truly heartening to see such progress. 🙌
Finally, something positive from the healthcare sector! 🇮🇳 My father had a stroke last year and the private hospital bill was astronomical. This facility will save countless lives in Surat and surrounding areas. Hope other states follow Gujarat's example—especially in places like Bihar and UP where public healthcare is struggling.
Great initiative, but I worry about the maintenance and long-term sustainability. High-tech medical equipment requires regular servicing and consumables that can be costly. The government should also train enough technicians and doctors to operate this lab round the clock, or it risks becoming another white elephant in a few years. Let's hope they have a solid plan beyond the inauguration.
This is what good governance looks like. Free angioplasty and stroke care? That's literally priceless. My uncle suffered a severe migraine-stroke last year and by the time he got to a private hospital, the bill was over Rs 80,000. If this lab was around then, he could've been treated in the golden hour for free. Huge respect to Dr Parmar and the team for making this happen. 💙
Impressive tech and a noble goal. However, I've seen similar announcements in other Indian states where the equipment eventually became non-functional
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