BENGALURU: Heart attack now has no age limit as small children to young people are succumbing to it. To prevent heart attack cases, the Health department implemented Puneeth Rajkumar Hrudaya Jyothi scheme. This scheme has got huge response.
In the golden hour, 12,500-plus lives have been saved and 22,579 STEMI (ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction) cases have been detected and lives saved through the Puneeth Raj Kumar Hrudaya Jyothi scheme. Under the scheme, 14.94 lakh people have also got free ECG gone.
With the intention of saving lives by providing emergency and free treatment in the ‘Golden Hour, the most crucial first hour for those suffering from sudden heart attack, the ‘Hrudaya Jyothi scheme’ in name of Puneeth Rajkumar was implemented and has got good response. Under the scheme, along with free treatment, those who have suffered heart attack have been protected. In 31 districts, 85 district and taluk hospitals have been set up as heart attack prevention centres and being operated. There is also a plan to expand the scheme to more taluks, Health Minister U T Khader said.
When it comes to a heart attack, every minute matters. The Golden Hour is critical, and timely medical intervention is essential.
Karnataka Government @dhfwa Dr. Puneeth Rajkumar Hrudaya Jyothi Scheme is strengthening Karnataka’s cardiac care by enabling early detection and… pic.twitter.com/Chf2ja0mQs
— UT Khader (@utkhader) September 29, 2026
Under Puneeth Rajkumar Hrudaya Jyothi scheme 14,94,578 free ECG tests have been done till now and among 22,579 people, heart related problem cases have been detected. Of them, more than 12,500 lives have been saved. Through this programme till now more than 12,500 lives have been saved, the minister said.
Presently. the programme is functioning at level of saving about nine lives daily. Among those whose life were saved under this scheme, 2,386 people are less than 45 years age. From this, it is clear that there is awareness about heart attack among youngsters also and quick treatment is necessary, the minister said.
For eligible STEMI patients Tenecteplase injection is being given free of cost. In private hospital, the same injection costs Rs 30,000-40,000. Under the scheme, from March 2024 till now, 2,010 patients have been given Tenecteplase. The door-to-needle time has reduced from about 170 minutes to 57.5 minutes. Due to this, it has been possible to give angioplasty treatment quickly to needy patients, the minister pointed out.
“People spend lakhs for treatment after heart attacks, it is better to take preventive care as health will be better. People should voluntarily come forward to avail treatment beforehand. The government can only provide treatment for a disease. People should take care of their own health”, he told Public TV.
