Number of patients travelling outside Bihar for cardiac treatment drops: Experts

Patna: Ahead of the fourth annual conference of the state chapter of the Cardiological Society of India, doctors on Thursday said there has been a significant drop in the number of patients travelling outside Bihar for cardiac treatment, with nearly 40 cathlabs now operational across the state.The two-day conference, titled Bihar Interventional Council (BIC)-2026, will begin on Saturday, bringing together experts from India and abroad to share their experience in managing complex cardiac conditions.Organising secretary Dr Shamshad Alam said around 70 to 80 national and international faculty members will participate in the event and present approaches to handling challenging cases.Organising chairman and senior cardiologist Dr Pramod Kumar said the aim of the conference is to place Bihar on the national map in the field of cardiology. He added that several leading experts, regarded as authorities in the discipline, will attend the event, which will also feature hands-on workshops.President of the state chapter of the Cardiological Society of India, Dr Sanjeev Kumar, said cardiac ailments have risen over the past decade, particularly after Covid-19, with an increase in heart-related complications and sudden deaths. However, he noted that many complex cardiac cases are now being treated within the state, often without the need for major surgery.Senior cardiologists Dr VP Singh and Dr Arvind Kumar said that earlier, patients frequently travelled to cities such as Delhi and Vellore for heart treatment and angioplasty, but this trend has declined in recent years due to improved facilities in Bihar.Dr KK Varun said the proportion of cardiac patients from Bihar seeking treatment at private hospitals outside the state has dropped sharply from around 45% to nearly 5%.Other doctors who shared their insights included Dr Pawan Kumar Singh, Dr Ashish Sapre and Dr Sheheen Ahmad.