PM Modi’s gesture paves way for surgery on 235 poor kids in Pune

The health department has found that 163 children need corrective surgeries for various ailments, but congenital heart disease in common in the 0-6 age group.  Another 72 who need surgeries have been listed under the state’s cashless insurance scheme — Rajiv Gandhi Jeevandayi Yojana — but are still on the waiting list due to lack of proper documents.

Under the scheme, 267 heart operations were performed last year and 185 surgeries for other medical ailments. Now, a single window system will be set up at the district collectorate under the Dhanwantari mission, which is yet to be officially launched, Pawar said.  Congenital heart problems (CHD) are very common.

According to experts, at least one in every 100 live births has some form of congenital heart disease or anomaly.  Congenital heart disease is a condition that develops in the womb and each year, at least 10 lakh babies are born worldwide with this defect. In India, at least 1-1.8 lakh children are born annually with CHD. Parents are often too poor to treat such children and efforts are underway at various hospitals in the city to treat them at minimal cost through charitable trusts.

Bomi Bhote, CEO of Ruby Hall Clinic, which conducted the heart surgery for Vaishali Yadav, said they are willing to participate in such endeavours.
“There should be joint ventures and trusts willing to come forward and sponsor these children,” he added. Pawar added that they would hold a meeting with various hospitals on the new initiative.