Jaipur Health Department Unveils Comprehensive Plan to Combat Congenital Heart Diseases in Children
In a significant move to bolster pediatric cardiac care, the health department in Jaipur has announced a multi-pronged strategy aimed at early detection, management, and treatment of congenital heart diseases (CHD) across Rajasthan. The initiative focuses on establishing a child heart disease registry, developing a regional CHD hub, and expanding 2D Echo services to ensure timely interventions and regular follow-ups for affected children.
Strengthening Statewide CHD Care Through Advanced Infrastructure
The department is planning system upgrades that include setting up a child heart disease registry to meticulously track cases and outcomes. This registry will serve as a central database, enabling better monitoring and management of CHD patients throughout the state. Additionally, a regional CHD hub will be built to consolidate specialist services, streamlining access to expert care for children from both urban and rural areas.
Expanded 2D Echo services will play a crucial role in stepping up screening and diagnosis efforts, allowing for earlier identification of heart defects. The health department will also collaborate with various stakeholders to facilitate timely treatment for children from remote regions, ensuring they can reach major medical centers without delay.
Enhancing Technical Capacity and Referral Pathways
To ensure effective statewide CHD care, the department aims to build up technical capacity and tighten referral-to-treatment pathways. This involves training healthcare professionals and optimizing logistics to reduce gaps in the care continuum. A senior health department official emphasized, "The department is committed to system upgrades that will enhance tracking, specialist access, and screening, while working with stakeholders to ensure rural children receive timely treatment at major centers."
Building on National and State Initiatives
Under the Centre's Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK), the state has already scaled up CHD care through medicines and surgeries. A notable achievement is the establishment of a new Rs 20-crore CTVS surgery unit at JK Lon Hospital in 2025, which has been instrumental in handling complex cardiac cases. Similar cardiac facilities are slated to be developed at other state hospitals, further expanding the network of care.
The CTVS unit at JK Lon Hospital is currently managing cases of atrial septal defect (ASD), one of the most common heart defects in children that requires surgical intervention. In ASD, an abnormal opening in the septum separating the heart's upper chambers (atria) necessitates corrective surgery. The center has also reported cases of children with infections that deteriorate heart valves, as well as various congenital conditions affecting the heart's arteries, all of which demand surgical treatment.
Stepping Up Efforts for Early Detection and Treatment
The health department is intensifying efforts to identify children with CHD early, enabling prompt treatment. The official added, "Under RBSK, treatment for heart diseases and other conditions in newborns and children has been steadily enhanced through state government schemes, saving many lives with complex conditions." This proactive approach underscores the commitment to improving pediatric health outcomes and reducing the burden of congenital heart diseases in Rajasthan.
