CS inaugurates Rs 8.5 crores digital Cath Lab for SKIMS

SRINAGAR — Chief Secretary, Dr. Arun Kumar Mehta on Saturday inaugurated the state-of-the-art new digital cardiac catheterization lab for SKIMS, Soura here.

On the occasion, Secretary, Health; Director, SKIMS; Director Health, Kashmir; HoDs of different departments of SKIMS and many other concerned officers participated in person or virtually through video link.

While speaking at this event, Dr. Mehta observed that the endeavour of the government is to provide the best facilities to its citizens. He said that the administration is committed to making every health institution sufficient in terms of facilities available as per their status. He maintained that the aim is to provide efficient and quality service.

The Chief Secretary impressed the health professionals to improve work ethics to improve satisfaction levels. He told them to work honestly and with integrity for the benefit of the poor masses. He termed the health sector as one of the foremost priorities of the LG administration and “the days are not far when people from outside would visit J&K for treatment instead of local people going outside the UT”.

The Director SKIMS, Prof Parvaiz Koul revealed that the new digital cardiac catheterization lab dedicated to the public has been installed in the premier health Institute of the UT at a cost of Rs 8.5 crores. He further informed that the Cath Lab would enhance the capacity of the Institute to perform the advanced interventional cardiology procedures that are going to bring respite to a large number of patients here.

It was informed that the Cardiology department of SKIMS is a pioneer in J&K to do heart-related procedures right from 1982, the year of its establishment. It was also informed that the department has come a long way since then without losing its position of being the first choice among the patients for treatment.

It was informed that the department has long been doing the procedures like electrophysiological procedures, pacemaker removals, and other procedures. The department is said to be among the top Cardiology departments in the country in terms of its performance. The center is the only one in the UT, performing complicated and pediatric interventions regularly.