Bengaluru, DHNS: Doctors attribute it to expertise, facilities available in state. With better facilities and expertise in heart care, compared to many other states, Karnataka has emerged the prefered destination for cardiac patients from various parts of the country.

Though hospitals in Bengaluru and Mysuru see a good number of patients from across the country, at least seven out of 10 among them are from West Bengal.

Lack of infrastructure and high cost of treatment in West Bengal are what draw them to Bengaluru for treatment, say Bengaluru-based cardiologists.

Dr C?N?Manjunath, director, Jayadeva Institute of Cardio Vascular Sciences and Research said that 15% of the cases that they see at the hospital are outstation patients and over half of them are from West Bengal.

“Bengaluru hospitals offer quality care. We see a good number of pediatric cases with cardiac ailments. There are very few paediatric cardiologists in the country. It is a challenge to operate upon children below one year. In Bengaluru, there are several hospitals which offer this expertise. Hence the numbers,” he explained.

Besides West Bengal, Jayadeva Institute sees a good number of patients from Odisha, Jharkhand and Madhya Pradesh. Patients from Pakistan, Afghanistan, Middle East nations, Vietnam and Indonesia also come to the hospital in good numbers.

Dr Manjunath said that with a high inflow of patients to Bengaluru’s hospitals, the city also has turned into an ideal ground for professionals and researchers. “There are several medical professionals who hit the city to learn as the number of cases that are attended to are high here,” he added.

According to Dr Deepesh Venkataramana, consultant cardiologist, BGS Global Hospitals, patients that he attended to from West Bengal had told him that they prefered Karnataka as there are better facilities and expertise here. “Seven to eight outstation patients of 10 are from West Bengal. They lack facilities back home. Moreover, they tell us that the post-operative care is much better in Bengaluru,” added Dr Venkataramana.

He said that even patients from the areas bordering Karnataka choose Bengaluru instead of travelling to hospitals in their own state. “They too tell us that doctors and hospital staff here are more prompt,” he stated.

Dr Devananda N?S, Head of Department, Cardiology said that 20% out-patient cases in Manipal Hospital are from West Bengal. “Patients tell us that quackery is rampant there. Patients do not even rely on the ECG that is done there and request us to do it again,” he said.