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Norvic installs the state of the art Cathlab system to cure heart patients

By ARUNA SINGH PRADHAN

Heart patients, take heart. The Norvic-Escorts Health Care and Research Center in Kathmandu has installed the first ever new generation Cathlab in the private sector. The introduction of this latest super specialty facility aims to fill up the long standing vacuum in the diagnostic and therapeutic facilities in Nepal, crucial to cardiotherapy. The cathlab makes it possible to pinpoint the cardiac anomaly with better accuracy.

Cathlab at Norvic : New service on the block

An estimated 10 percent of Nepalese are under the threat of cardiac problems. Yet till recently there were insufficient diagnostic and therapeutic facilities to cater to the needs of the heart patients in Nepal. According to rough estimates, over 10,000 Nepalese go abroad especially to India for cardiac related treatment. Treatment and travel costs add up to millions of rupees. This kind of cost makes treatment of cardiac disease unaffordable for the common people.

"This is one of the most sophisticated diagnostic instrument which may be beneficial to the patient," said Dr. Sitaram Bhakta Singh Pradhan, Associate professor, TU, Institute Of Medicine (IOM). "This machine shows the circulation status, making it useful for diagnosing and treating heart diseases," added Dr. Pradhan.

The Cathlab provides a magnified screen image of the heart and the coronary arteries, through the insertion of a catheter, sharply identifying the system malady that gives rise to recurring chest pains, valvular defects or heart attack. The OEC Cathlab at Norvic is distinctly superior with its 1K2 imaging technology. It has broken a barrier that has previously separated the capabilities of mobile systems from those of contemporary fixed-room imaging system-true 1K X 1K imaging resolution through out the imaging chain. The result is a powerful digital imaging with exceptional image capture, management and recording capabilities.

Another advantage of the Norvic Cathlab is its online connection with Escorts Heart Institute and Research Centre, New Delhi. This means that as the procedure is in progress, the on-line screen image will help senior cardiologists at Escorts to communicate their opinion on the desired course of action.

However, the procedural cost of coronary Angiography on the Cathlab cost an enormous amount of Rs 25,000. This high price tag on this procedural is not going to make it affordable for the general public.

"The Cathlab will be useful provided the cost be minimal to suit the general Nepalese pocket," said Dr. Pradhan.

While a lower cost would make this machine more useful, Cathlab still remains a valuable addition to the treatment of heart related problems. It definitely reduces the mental and physical and financial cost of taking a patient abroad for treatment.

Dr. Rawal Is Sacked

In the tug of war between Finance Minister Mahesh Acharya and Governor of Nepal Rastra Bank Dr. Tilak Rawal, Acharya seems to have finally won the battle.

The government has appointed former Tourism Secretary Dipendra Purush Dhakal, a member of the board of directors of NRB, as new governor of the Nepal Rastra Bank after sacking Rawal on Tuesday.

Expressing dissension over the the appointemnt of Dr. Rawal by the then K. P. Bhattarai government, Acharya had resigned from the post of chief of the treasury early this year. Prime Minister Koirala appointed Acharya at the same post after assuming office in April.

A Congress loyalist, Dr. Rawal is said to enjoy support of more than two dozen Congress lawmakers. As soon as Koirala was able to overcome the dissension within the party after sacking Khadka, a powerful second generation leader, the Koirala camp has chose Dr. Rawal as its target. At a time when government-owned banks and financial institutions were virtually on the verge of collapse, no steps could be taken to rescue them reportedly due to differences between Acharya and Dr. Rawal. They were not even at the talking terms, sources said.

Son of a former justice at the Supreme Court Jhapat Singh Rawal, Dr Rawal could not be reached for comments till late Tuesday. Sources close to him said Dr. Rawal may challenge the government decision at the apex court seeking his reinstatment.

Governor Rawal had just returned home Monday from his visit to Bangladesh.