K'taka launches Puneeth Rajkumar Hrudaya Jyoti Yojana to provide rapid treatment

Amid rising incidences of cardiac arrest particularly among the youth Karnataka Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao announced the launch of the Puneeth Rajkumar Hrudaya Jyoti Yojana This initiative aims to provide swift treatment to individuals experiencing sudden heart attacks stated a PTI reportNamed in memory of renowned Kannada actor Puneeth Rajkumar who tragically passed away from a heart attack on October 29 2021 at the age of 46 the program focuses on offering immediate medical assistance during the golden hour This crucial period is vital for saving the lives of those suffering cardiac arrests the report addedAccording to the report the Health Minister expressed concern about the increasing prevalence of heart attacks among young people noting that studies indicate that 3537 of heart attack victims are in their 40s Recognizing the importance of treating heart attack patients within the golden hour Minister Rao emphasized the governments responsibility to provide timely aid to the general publicThe program operates through two key strategies the Hub and spoke model and the deployment of automated external defibrillator AED devices in public places The Hub and spoke model designed as a distribution network resembling a bicycle wheel has proven effective in preventing sudden cardiac arrestsTo ensure accessibility the government designates 85 district and Taluk hospitals as spoke centres Simultaneously ten hub centres have been established across 16 superspeciality hospitals including the Sri Jayadeva Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences and Research Patients experiencing chest pain can visit spoke centres for immediate electrocardiogram ECG assessment Advanced AI technology enables the detection of critical conditions within four to five minutesCritical patients receive Tenecteplase injections at spoke centres which are highly effective in preventing sudden cardiac arrests The government has committed to providing these injections free of charge in government hospitals offering a substantial costsaving compared to private hospitals where the injections typically cost between Rs 30000 to Rs 45000Following treatment at spoke centres patients are transferred to hub centres within superspeciality hospitals for further care including angiogram or angioplasty if necessary Under the program individuals with Below Poverty Line BPL cards receive free treatment in superspeciality hospital hubs while those with Above Poverty Line APL cards can access free treatment using the Arogya Karnataka Ayushman Bharat Health CardThe Health Department has connected 45 spoke centres with three Jayadeva Cardiology Institute hubs in Bengaluru Mysuru and Kalaburagi Hospitals Additionally seven hubs have been established in collaboration with government medical college hospitals and some private medical institutions connecting with 40 spoke centres including 34 Taluk and six district hospitalsThe comprehensive program aims to create 10 hub and spoke centres across 85 Taluk and district hospitals throughout the state with the ultimate goal of saving lives during sudden heart attacksTo further enhance accessibility to lifesaving interventions selfpowered Automated External Defibrillator AED devices will be installed in public places such as bus stands railway stations airports Vidhana Soudha and courts The government plans to deploy 50 AED devices in hightraffic public areas across the state including major citiesThese AED devices each estimated to cost up to Rs 110 lakh are in the procurement process according to Minister Rao