VIMS Extends Free Life-Saving Tenecteplase to Stroke, Heart Attack Patients

Patients brought to VIMS Hospital during the golden hour have a significantly higher chance of survival, thanks to timely interventions and advanced medical care, say doctors.

Under the STEMI (ST-elevated myocardial infarction) program, aimed at enabling rapid treatment for heart attacks, Tenecteplase injections costing approximately Rs. 50,000 are provided free of charge to eligible patients, with around 150 patients receiving life-saving treatment annually.

Speaking to The Coastal Times, VIMS Director Dr. K. Rambabu said, “In the past, paralysis of a limb was often considered permanent. Today, recovery from stroke is possible if patients are brought to the hospital promptly and treated on time.”

To improve patient outcomes, the state government is strengthening services for brain and heart stroke patients. At VIMS, the high-cost Tenecteplase injection is being administered free to patients in life-threatening situations.

Dr. Rambabu emphasized that immediate hospital visits after a stroke or heart attack can be lifesaving. “The incidence of stroke and heart disease is rising across all age groups. Delayed hospital visits or inadequate treatment increase fatalities. Timely injection administration provides reassurance, especially for economically disadvantaged patients.” He noted that every minute counts after a stroke, as 1.2 million neurons are lost per minute, a phenomenon known as “time brain.”

Patients arriving within four and a half hours of symptom onset receive comprehensive tests and the expensive Tenecteplase injection free of cost. In heart stroke cases, a ten-minute BMG injection administered within an hour can save lives.

VIMS Hospital currently treats six to seven brain cancer cases per month and up to 80 patients for other conditions. Through the government’s ME program, 120 to 150 heart stroke patients receive free injections annually. “We urge the public to fully utilize the services at VIMS. Awareness programs are conducted by doctors specialized in brain stroke care,” Dr. Rambabu added.

Outpatient visits at VIMS have increased significantly, yet the hospital continues to provide comprehensive free services. “Patients with brain cancer and heart strokes receive Tenecteplase injections without obstacles. We are committed to excellent care and timely treatment for all emergency heart attack and stroke patients,” said Dr. Rambabu.