Patients visiting Civil Hospital, Jalandhar, can now access Echocardiography (ECHO) services free of charge, eliminating the need to shell out thousands of rupees at private diagnostic centres for the critical heart test.
The newly introduced facility is being provided under the supervision of Dr Abhinav Shoor, a consultant physician, and his team. It is expected to benefit patients suffering from heart disease, stroke and cancer by enabling timely diagnosis and treatment without imposing a financial burden.
Echocardiography is a non-invasive ultrasound examination that provides detailed information about the structure and functioning of the heart. The test helps doctors assess cardiac health, diagnose abnormalities and determine appropriate treatment plans.
Hospital officials said that three to four patients were currently undergoing free Echocardiography tests each day. The service was particularly beneficial for patients recovering from heart attacks, stroke patients and those receiving treatment at the hospital’s Cancer Day Care Centre, said an official.
The introduction of the facility further strengthens the Punjab Government’s healthcare initiatives under Mission Amrit and the Punjab Stroke Programme, officials added.
Under Mission Amrit, patients suffering from ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction (STEMI) receive prompt thrombolytic therapy to dissolve blood clots blocking coronary arteries, restoring blood flow to the heart and improving survival rates.
Similarly, the Punjab Stroke Programme provides timely thrombolysis for patients with acute ischaemic stroke, helping restore blood supply to the brain, reducing long-term disability and improving recovery outcomes.
A key feature of both programmes is the free provision of Tenecteplase injection, a clot-dissolving medication that costs approximately Rs 40,000 in the private sector. Officials said the initiative ensures that life-saving treatment is not delayed because of financial constraints.
Dr Shoor said the Punjab Stroke Programme also facilitates the referral of eligible stroke patients to Christian Medical College, Ludhiana, for mechanical thrombectomy. The advanced procedure, which can cost around Rs 5 lakh in private healthcare facilities, is provided free of charge under the programme.
Dr Namita Ghai, Medical Superintendent at Jalandhar Civil Hospital, said the facility had been introduced through the efforts of Punjab Health Minister Dr Balbir Singh and Dr Hitender Kaur, Director Health Services, to bring advanced healthcare services to government hospitals.
“We appeal to the public to make use of these services, which are of high quality and available free of cost,” she said.
