Guwahati, July 25: In a major boost to cardiac healthcare in Assam, the Heart Valve Foundation of India (HVFI) on Saturday announced a ₹50 lakh fund to provide free advanced cardiac treatment to economically disadvantaged patients from the state at Fortis Escorts Heart Institute in New Delhi. The initiative also includes specialist training for doctors and concessional treatment for patients requiring complex heart procedures.

The announcement was made at a press conference in Guwahati by HVFI, a charitable organisation led by renowned cardiologist Dr Ashok Seth, Chairman of Fortis Escorts Heart Institute. Under the scheme, eligible patients referred by the Assam government will receive advanced cardiac treatment at the institute free of cost.

Beyond the grant, the Foundation unveiled a multi-pronged programme to strengthen cardiac care in Assam. Financially challenged patients needing advanced heart surgeries at Fortis Escorts will be offered treatment at Assam government rates after clinical assessment. The initiative also includes capacity-building programmes for doctors and medical students at Gauhati Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), with training sessions led by Dr Ashok Seth, Dr. Aparna Jaswal and Dr. Ritwick Raj Bhuyan.

The programme comes amid growing concerns over the high cost of cardiovascular treatment. According to the organisers, the average expenditure for a cardiovascular hospitalisation can exceed ₹1 lakh in private urban hospitals, making advanced treatment unaffordable for many families.

Later in the day, Fortis Escorts organised “Involve – A Unique Interactive Knowledge Exchange Forum”, bringing together leading cardiac specialists and doctors from Assam to discuss advances in heart failure management and treatment of complex cardiac cases. Assam Health Minister Ashok Singhal attended the programme, describing the initiative as one that complements the state’s efforts to strengthen cardiac care by combining financial assistance with medical capacity building.

Dr Ashok Seth said the partnership seeks to remove financial barriers that often prevent patients with complex heart diseases from accessing life-saving treatment. Dr Ritwick Raj Bhuyan said the collaboration would ensure patients from Assam have a direct pathway to advanced surgical care while promoting knowledge exchange with local clinicians. Dr Aparna Jaswal stressed the importance of early diagnosis and timely referral, while Fortis Escorts Vice President Dr Vikram Aggarwal said the initiative would help make tertiary cardiac care more accessible to people in the Northeast.

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