National Cardiac Centre launches affordable cardiovascular risk assessment service to benefit low-income families

Published On: September 13, 2024 07:27 AM NPT By: Republica | @RepublicaNepal

KATHMANDU, Sept 13: As part of its ongoing efforts to promote heart health, the National Cardiac Centre (NCC) has introduced an affordable cardiovascular risk assessment service. Priced lower than similar tests at most government hospitals, this initiative makes heart care more accessible to low-income families.

According to the NCC, the program focuses on identifying critical risk factors such as high blood pressure, cholesterol, and diabetes, aiming for early detection and prevention. By targeting these areas, the initiative seeks to alleviate the increasing burden of heart disease in Nepal.

The NCC, a private heart care facility working to promote heart health through awareness campaigns, has been running free risk screenings and health camps for the past few years. Additionally, the NCC provides specialized training and telemedicine services, including free consultations for Nepali migrant workers who often face challenges in accessing healthcare abroad.

The NCC has also been active in anti-smoking campaigns, offering participants free heart check-ups, blood screenings, ECGs, and echocardiograms. Its recent campaign, "Smokers Are Not Selfish," helped over 1,700 individuals quit smoking.

NCC CEO Ajit Kumar Singh highlighted the center's commitment to providing affordable care, saying, "We offer free services to very poor individuals visiting our center daily and provide discounts on fees and diagnostic tests for patients with financial difficulties."

In addition to patient care, the NCC frequently conducts training for health journalists and the public, offering Basic Life Support (BLS) training to empower communities in handling emergencies like heart attacks and cardiac arrests.

Despite being a private institution, the NCC works closely with the government, significantly contributing to Nepal’s healthcare system in the fight against heart disease. The center was founded by renowned cardiologist Dr. Om Murti Anil, who has been a key figure in heart disease prevention for over a decade.