Doctors at the Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) in Ranchi have successfully performed two open heart surgeries in the month of February so far, Health Minister Ramchandra Chandravanshi said on Monday, calling it a major achievement as no cardiac surgery was performed at the state-run hospital since its establishment in 1960.
The surgeries were performed under Ayushman Bharat Yojana, a Centre’s scheme that was launched to provide free treatment to at least 50 crore citizens of the country, Chandravanshi said.
“It is a great achievement for Jharkhand. Now, patients will not have to spend a fortune for cardiac surgery at private hospitals,” Chandravanshi said.
Chandravanshi along with RIMS Director Dr. DK Singh and the team that performed the surgeries officially announced their achievement on Monday at the Director’s office in RIMS.
Dr. Singh said that a cardiac surgery is always a team effort and requires dedication from each member of the team.
“Right from the sweeper to the head surgeon, every member of the team plays a crucial role in cardiac surgeries. Our doctors along with Dr. Amit Mishra from PGIMER Chandigarh, performed the surgeries at RIMS,” Singh said.
Dr. Mishra, who happens to be an ex student of the RIMS Director, had come to Ranchi on a special request.
Responding to a question on the dearth of doctors in Jharkhand, Singh said that he was already in talks with several doctors, originally from Jharkhand but working outside, to return to their home state.
“I have personally spoken to many such doctors and they have shown interest in returning to Jharkhand,” he said.
Dr. Amit Mishra from Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, said that the operation theater for cardiac surgeries at RIMS is among the best in the country and patients should not face any infrastructural difficulties here.
“Your own doctors have done the surgeries. I was here only to be a part of the team,” he said.
Asked about the RIMS doctors’ demand for the implementation of seventh pay commission, Health Minister Ramchandra Chandravanshi said that a decision will be taken as per the set guidelines.
Doctors at the medical facility have also threatened to go on a pen-down strike on February 6 demanding the same.
“We will have a proper one to one conversation with the doctors about their demands and do what is best,” said Chandravanshi.