Kerala Approves Rs 44.30 Crore for New Cath Labs at Government Medical Colleges

Thiruvananthapuram: Health Minister Veena George has announced administrative approval of Rs 44.30 crore for the establishment of new cath labs at government medical colleges in Alappuzha, Ernakulam, and Kozhikode. Of the total, Alappuzha Medical College will receive Rs 14.31 crore, Ernakulam Medical College Rs 14.99 crore, and Kozhikode Medical College Rs 15 crore. The minister emphasized that the government is prioritizing advanced cardiac care to meet growing healthcare demands.

Apart from these major medical colleges, the Health Department has already set up cath labs in 12 hospitals across the state. Once a cath lab is established in Idukki, Kerala will have at least one cath lab in every district, ensuring wider access to advanced cardiac care.

Alappuzha Medical College, the only government-sector cath lab in the district, has performed over 5,000 cardiac procedures in the past two years. The approved funds will be used to enhance the facility with a 20-bed post-cath ICU, TMT machine, temporary pacemaker, 5 ventilators, 20 ICU beds, echo machine, and other essential equipment.

At Ernakulam Medical College, the new cath lab will be established in the super-specialty block. The funding will support the cath lab, a 20-bed post-cath ICU, temporary pacemaker, 5 ventilators, echo machine, anesthesia work station, portable echo machine, and other necessary medical devices.

Kozhikode Government Medical College, which conducts the highest number of cardiac interventions in Kerala, will also receive a new cath lab to serve more patients. The allocation will cover an advanced cath lab, echo machine, cardiac 3D mapping system, 15 ICU beds, 15 cardiac monitors, 3 ventilators, emergency trauma cart, and other critical equipment.