The authorities at the Government Medical College Hospital (MCH), Kozhikode, are reportedly making arrangements to procure surgical devices for the Cardiology department, after emergency angioplasty surgeries were stopped following their shortage.
“According to sources, the Head of the Department of Cardiology had informed higher officials on Thursday (August 28, 2025) that it would not be possible to offer primary angioplasty to patients with heart disease because of a shortage of balloon-tipped catheters and mesh wires, which are used to widen narrowed or blocked blood vessels and place stents. Doctors in the department had said that only thrombolysis — a procedure in which blood clots are dissolved to restore normal blood flow — could be offered as treatment for heart attacks. The department also clarified that all patients coming to the casualty section should be informed of the situation, and that doctors would not be held responsible for any untoward complications arising under these circumstances.
The issue arose after distributors of these devices stopped supplies, citing pending dues worth hundreds of crores. Around 30 patients reportedly seek treatment for heart attacks at the hospital each day, and nearly half of them may require emergency surgeries. Anticipating a crisis, the authorities are making arrangements to procure the devices from alternative sources.
Published – August 28, 2025 11:56 pm IST
