In two decades, the number of heart patients has gone up by five times in the country, but there has not been any concrete plans to reduce the threat posed by heart diseases.

Dr. Bhagawan Koirala

Dr. Bhagawan Koirala (Photo source: www.pjmt.org.np)
Of the total heart patients admitted in the hospitals, 40 per cent have coronory heart disease, 28 per cent Rheumatic heart disease, 29 per cent for high blood pressure, according to the various studies conducted by Nepal Heart Foundation (NHF) and the Health Ministry.

According to World Health Organisation (WHO), the increasing trend of eating junk foods, the excessive use of tobacco and stressful lifestyles led by people are leading to heart diseases and thus shortening life spans.

Besides that, Cardiomiopathy caused due to excessive alcohol consumption is an increasing trend. Five years ago, around six people of 1,000 population were reported suffering from Cardiomiopathy, while it has gone up to 20 people of every 1,000 of the population.

Talking to Nepalnews on the occasion of “World Heart Day 2006”, Dr. Bhagawan Koirala, Executive Director of the Martyr Gangalal Heart Centre said that that there are three challenges to tackle the Heart problem in the country.

The first problem is how to tackle the existing problem. “We have to provide good treatment to all heart patients and we should also make the service accessible to the people outside the Kathmandu valley,” he added.

The second challenge is we have to make the service affordable to all people. “The Hospital with the help of the Government of Nepal is providing free treatment service to the children under 15-year.”

“To make the service affordable the service should be expanded outside the valley and community insurance policy could also be useful in this regard,” Dr Koirala added.

He said that the hospital is planning to provide medical services at minimal cost to the needy people. He however said that the government’s support is a must in this regard.

The third challenge is making people aware for the prevention of the heart disease. “Including health education in the curriculum and making people award by using various methods could be instrumental in this regard,” he added.

The government has not been able to decentralize the treatment service of the heart disease. Though the government expressed its commitment to decentralize the service in paper but it is yet to be materialized.