Speaker Ritu Khanduri meets CDS Anil Chauhan in New Delhi

Requests Establishment of Cardiology Department and Cath Lab at Doon MH

my uttarakhand news Bureau 

NEW DELHI, 17 Jan: Uttarakhand Legislative Assembly Speaker Ritu Khanduri Bhushan paid a courtesy visit on the Chief of Defence Staff, General Anil Chauhan, and the Secretary, Department of Military Affairs, Ministry of Defence, in New Delhi and made an important request for the establishment of modern and comprehensive cardiac care facilities at the Military Hospital (MH), Dehradun.

On this occasion, Khanduri submitted a detailed letter to General Chauhan seeking the establishment of a fully developed Cardiology Department and a Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory (Cath Lab) at MH Dehradun. This request is directly linked to the health and lives of soldiers deployed in Uttarakhand, the large population of ex-servicemen residing in the state, and their dependents.

During the interaction, the Speaker stated that MH Dehradun has for decades been a trusted medical institution for armed forces personnel, soldiers injured during disasters and military operations, and families of ex-servicemen in Uttarakhand. Despite this, the absence of essential facilities for the treatment of serious conditions such as heart diseases is deeply concerning.

She informed General Anil Chauhan that at present, soldiers, ex-servicemen, and their family members suffering from cardiac ailments are referred to MH Bareilly, located approximately 300 kilometres away, or to other affiliated hospitals. In emergency situations, such long-distance referrals often pose serious risks. The fact that more than 750 ex-servicemen and their dependents are referred every year for cardiac treatment, consistently over the past three years, highlights the gravity of the issue.

The Speaker further emphasized that thousands of ex-servicemen and their families, who have served the nation with dedication, reside permanently in and around Dehradun. In such a scenario, the establishment of a Cardiology Department and Cath Lab at MH Dehradun would not only strengthen healthcare services but would also stand as a symbol of the nation’s respect and sensitivity towards its soldier families.

General Anil Chauhan received this humanitarian and extremely important issue raised by the Speaker with seriousness and a positive outlook, and assured due consideration. The interaction also reflected the commitment of the top military leadership towards the welfare of the armed forces.

Ritu Khanduri Bhushan expressed confidence that with the cooperation of the Central Government and military administration, concrete steps would be taken in this direction at the earliest, ensuring timely and quality cardiac care for soldiers, ex-servicemen, and their families in Uttarakhand.