Jahangeer Ganaie
Anantnag, Jan 06 : The state-of-the-art Cardiac Catheterisation Laboratory (Cath Lab) at Government Medical College (GMC) Anantnag has emerged as a major boon for patients across south Kashmir and adjoining regions, significantly improving access to timely and advanced cardiac care.
An official at the GMC Anantnag informed the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that the facility has completed more than 2,000 cardiac procedures in just eight months since becoming operational, marking a new chapter in the region’s public healthcare delivery.
The growing capability of the Cath Lab was demonstrated on January 5, 2026, when the Department of Cardiology at GMC Anantnag performed eight primary angioplasties within a record time of 12 hours—from 8:00 am to 8:00 pm—for patients suffering from acute heart attacks. The achievement is being widely seen as a reflection of the rapid and robust development of the cardiology programme at the institution.
The average door-to-balloon time—a critical parameter in heart attack management—was maintained between 15 and 20 minutes, which is nearly 30 minutes faster than internationally accepted benchmarks, the official said, adding that early intervention within this time frame significantly reduces heart muscle damage and improves survival outcomes.
All the angioplasty procedures were conducted through the radial route (via the arm), which is now considered a safer and more patient-friendly approach as it lowers the risk of complications and enables faster recovery.
Despite the varied clinical profiles of the patients—ranging from young individuals to elderly and high-risk cases—all procedures were successful. Notably, every patient was stable and discharged the following morning, underscoring the efficiency and quality of care provided.
Before the establishment of the Cath Lab at GMC Anantnag, patients from south Kashmir districts such as Anantnag, Kulgam and Shopian often had to rush to Srinagar or even outside Jammu and Kashmir for urgent cardiac interventions. This not only caused delays in treatment but also added to the emotional and financial burden on families.
With the Cath Lab now fully functional, GMC Anantnag is catering to a wide geographical catchment area, providing life-saving cardiac care to patients from Anantnag, Kulgam, Shopian, Banihal, Ramban, Doda, Kishtwar, Poonch and Rajouri.
Health officials said this decentralisation of specialised services has been crucial in saving lives, particularly during the golden hours of heart attack management.
The rapid progress of the cardiology department is being attributed to the leadership of Principal and Dean Prof. Dr Rukhsana Najeeb, under whose patronage the institution has expanded specialised services at an unprecedented pace.
The Department of Cardiology is headed by Dr Syed Maqbool, supported by a dedicated team of senior cardiologists—Dr. Shamim Iqbal, Dr Showkat Hussain Shah and Dr Shahood Kakroo. “Together, the team has worked to establish a comprehensive cardiac care programme that now offers almost all advanced interventional procedures that were previously unavailable in south Kashmir,” the official said.
Doctors at GMC Anantnag said the successful completion of 2,000 procedures within such a short span reflects not only clinical expertise but also improved infrastructure, streamlined emergency protocols, and round-the-clock availability of trained staff.
Health experts believe that the Cath Lab at GMC Anantnag represents a turning point for public healthcare in south Kashmir, particularly for economically weaker sections who rely heavily on government institutions for specialised treatment.
“With timely angioplasty now available locally, precious lives are being saved. Patients no longer lose critical time on long road journeys to Srinagar,” said a doctor, adding that the focus now is on further expanding services and strengthening preventive cardiology—(KNO)
