Anantnag, Feb 20: A cardiac catheterization lab (cath lab) was inaugurated on Thursday at Government Medical College (GMC) Anantnag. The facility is expected to enhance patient care by providing advanced cardiac procedures closer to home for many patients in south Kashmir.
The cath lab was inaugurated by Sakina Masood (Itoo), Cabinet Minister for Health and Medical Education.
The minister said that the cath lab was a demand, as many patients had to travel to Srinagar for treatment, facing difficulties due to heavy patient load.
“But the government of Omar Abdullah is for the people, committed to their welfare. We are working for them and will continue to do so,” she added.
According to Dr. Showkat Hussain Teli, Media Coordinator at GMC Anantnag, the institution has become the first among the newly established GMCs to have a cath lab installed.
He said that previously, patients suffering from heart attacks, requiring pacemakers, or other cardiac treatments had to travel to Srinagar. However, with the inauguration of the cath lab at GMC Anantnag, such patients from south Kashmir can now receive treatment locally.
“Acute cardiac care is now at our doorsteps,” he added.
A senior doctor said that a cath lab is crucial for cardiac emergencies, offering procedures like pacing, angiography, and stenting. These life-saving interventions are essential in the first few hours of a heart attack, helping restore blood flow and stabilize patients.
