Rising demand for heart surgery at Jayadeva Hospital

Bengaluru: The demand for open heart surgeries at Jayadeva Hospital in the city has surged significantly. Recently, heart problems have been increasing across all age groups, including youth, leading to a backlog of patients waiting up to six months for surgery.

While private hospitals charge a minimum of Rs. 10 lakh for open heart surgery, Jayadeva Hospital offers affordable and even free surgeries, which has contributed to the rising number of patients seeking treatment there.

Currently, Jayadeva Hospital performs around 19 to 20 open heart surgeries every day. With 10 operation theatres available, the hospital can conduct two to three surgeries per operation theatre daily. However, these theatres are currently overwhelmed due to the high volume of patients.

Dr. Ravindra, Director of Jayadeva Hospital, stated that for new patients requiring open heart surgery, the waiting period has extended to six months, making immediate scheduling difficult.

The government’s free schemes, which provide patients with very low-cost surgeries, have made Jayadeva Hospital a preferred choice. As a result, private hospitals are also shifting some patients to Jayadeva, further increasing demand.

To address this issue, health authorities are working to expand capacity across other government hospitals and units outside Bengaluru. Health minister, Dinesh Gundu Rao, has also announced plans to increase Jayadeva Hospital units in other cities to meet growing needs.

Patients seeking open heart surgery are advised to contact the hospital at least three to six months in advance. Without early planning, it may become difficult to access surgery facilities, given the current demand and limited capacity.