HYDERABAD: The Government will set up an online tracking system to closely monitor the progress of surgeries for children with heart ailments and conduct screening camps in September every year.

Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy reviewed progress of the surgeries during the last two years at a meeting here on Tuesday. The tracking system would enable monitoring of each case and the follow-up. While appreciating that 4,643 children were treated so far at a cost of Rs. 10.42 crores, he instructed that expeditious medical help be given to 857 children who are yet to be treated.

It has been proposed to have four screening camps this year on September 10, 17, 24 and October 1, an official release said.

Cath lab for Osmania

Dr. Reddy asked officials to explore the possibility of dovetailing the programme into the proposed health insurance scheme. He expressed happiness that various Government and private hospitals had achieved significant success in handling the "difficult task." He called for strengthening of cardiac units in Government hospitals. Officials informed him that a new cath lab, costing Rs.3 crores, has been installed at Osmania Hospital .

Plea to Government

Meanwhile, MRPS leader Krishna Madiga, who was instrumental in bringing to limelight the problem of cardiac ailments among poor children, demanded a separate cell for monitoring the progress of surgeries. While hailing the Government for launching a novel scheme in the State, he, however, said that its implementation was tardy.

The Government itself had admitted in an advertisement published in September last that two lakh children are suffering from heart ailments. Except NIMS, which conducted 802 surgeries and two corporate institutions --CARE (641) and Apollo (585) -- other private hospitals were not implementing the agreement entered into with the Government.

`Declare special day'

Faulting the administration for not strengthening cardiac department in Government hospitals, he said there was no shortage of funds. He demanded that August 7 be declared a special day to focus attention on children with cardiac ailments.

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