Guwahati: In a major initiative to improve access to advanced cardiac care in Assam, the Heart Valve Foundation of India (HVFI) has announced a Rs 50 lakh grant to provide free treatment for economically disadvantaged patients from the state at Fortis Escorts Heart Institute in New Delhi.
The announcement was made at a press conference in Guwahati on Saturday. Under the initiative, eligible patients referred by the Assam government will receive advanced cardiac treatment at Fortis Escorts Heart Institute, Okhla, without any cost.
Besides the financial assistance, HVFI and Fortis Escorts Heart Institute unveiled a series of measures aimed at strengthening cardiac healthcare in Assam and the Northeast. These include offering highly specialised cardiac procedures at Assam government-approved rates for financially constrained patients requiring complex treatment, subject to clinical assessment.
As part of efforts to enhance local medical expertise, senior specialists from Fortis Escorts Heart Institute, including chairman Dr. Ashok Seth, cardiologist Dr. Aparna Jaswal, and cardiothoracic surgeon Dr. Ritwick Raj Bhuyan, will conduct specialised training programmes for doctors and medical students at Gauhati Medical College and Hospital (GMCH).
The initiative comes amid growing concerns over the rising burden of cardiovascular diseases and the high cost of treatment. According to data cited by the organisers, a single hospitalisation for cardiovascular disease can cost nearly Rs 69,500 in urban India and exceed Rs 1 lakh in private hospitals, placing advanced treatment beyond the reach of many low-income families.
Later in the day, Fortis Escorts Heart Institute organised “Involve – A Unique Interactive Knowledge Exchange Forum“, bringing together cardiologists and physicians from Assam to discuss advances in heart failure management and treatment of complex cardiac conditions. Assam Health Minister Ashok Singhal attended the programme and participated in the inaugural ceremony.
Welcoming the initiative, Singhal said the collaboration aligns with the Assam government’s vision of improving healthcare by combining financial support for patients with specialised clinical training for doctors.
Dr. Ashok Seth said many patients with complex heart conditions are unable to access life-saving treatment because of financial constraints. He said the grant seeks to remove that barrier while ensuring patients receive world-class cardiac care.
Dr. Ritwick Raj Bhuyan said the partnership would provide patients from Assam with easier access to advanced surgical treatment while also strengthening collaboration between specialists in Delhi and healthcare professionals in the state.
Dr. Aparna Jaswal stressed the importance of early diagnosis and timely referral, saying continuous knowledge-sharing with doctors in Assam would help improve outcomes for patients with serious cardiac conditions.
Dr. Vikram Aggarwal, Vice President and Head of the Strategic Business Unit at Fortis Escorts Heart Institute, said the collaboration would help bridge geographical barriers and make advanced tertiary cardiac care more accessible and affordable for people in the Northeast.