Trichy: A cath lab and a new building for the district early intervention centre (DEIC) were inaugurated at Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Government Hospital (MGMGH) by chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami through video conferencing on Monday.The cath lab, a Philips FD10 Single Plan System, has been set up at a cost of Rs 3.6 crore at the cardiology floor of MGMGH. A team comprising a professor and three assistant professors from the cardiology department and six staff nurses have been deputed to the facility. The staff nurses have already been undergoing training to handle the equipment.Speaking during the inauguration, the dean of MGMGH, Dr G Anitha, said that apart from Trichy, heart patients from districts like Ariyalur, Perambalur, Karur and Pudukottai would also be able to avail of treatment at the cath lab. “The cath lab would start functioning in three to four weeks’ time,” she added. The dean said that a total of 72 children – with heart diseases like atrial septal defect and ventricular septal defect – had been treated at hospitals in Coimbatore and Chennai through the referral by MGMGH. Now, with the installation of the cath lab, they would be treated at MGMGH itself.Professor at department of cardiology, Dr T Balasubramian, told TOI that angiogram would be initially available at the lab. “In the subsequent months, other treatments like angioplasty, device closure and mitral valvotomy -- will be made available,” he said. The old DEIC building had space constraints, which was the main reason why the new independent building had been constructed at a cost of Rs 1 crore. The entire operation was shifted to the new building from Monday. At the DEIC building, consultation, therapy and treatment for children with various diseases and health conditions would be provided.

Stay updated with all the Latest Trichy headlines here. For more exclusive & live news updates from all around India, stay connected with NYOOOZ.