In a major push towards public health protection, the Andhra Pradesh government has spent over Rs 1,003 crore on providing free treatment for heart-related ailments through the NTR Trust for Medical Services during the past 15 months, Health Minister Satya Kumar Yadav announced on Sunday.

According to the minister, 1.41 lakh patients received treatment worth Rs 996 crore for heart-related diseases under the trust, while an additional 3,402 patients benefited from golden hour emergency care worth Rs 7 crore. The initiative, he said, was part of the coalition government’s commitment to ensure affordable healthcare for the poor and middle class.

Of the 19.61 lakh patients treated under the trust since June last year, expenses on heart diseases alone accounted for 17.9%, the highest share of costs. Treatments included 45,986 stent implantations, 9,880 bypass surgeries, and 3,074 valve replacements, apart from other cardiac procedures. Cancer ranked next, with 69,926 patients receiving treatment worth Rs 965 crore, followed by orthopedic care for 2.04 lakh patients at a cost of Rs 642 crore.

The minister highlighted that access to cardiac treatment had expanded significantly since the coalition came to power. At present, 161 private and corporate hospitals and 26 government hospitals are providing heart care under the trust. Facilities have also been strengthened at AIIMS Mangalagiri and the multi-specialty hospital in Srikakulam, he added. Treatment at government hospitals rose from 13,921 patients in 2023–24 to 17,500 in 2024–25, reflecting growing public reliance on the system.

Minister Yadav underlined the success of the ‘STEMI’ protocol, under which costly clot-busting injections are provided free during the crucial “golden hour” after a heart attack. So far, 3,402 patients have received these injections worth Rs 7 crore, saving lives that would otherwise be at grave risk. Treatment is now available in 238 hospitals across the state, including community health centers through a hub-and-spoke telemedicine model.

The minister also stressed on preventive measures, including surveys for hypertension, diabetes, and cancers, alongside awareness campaigns urging lifestyle and dietary changes. “Under Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu’s leadership, the coalition government is uncompromising in protecting the health of the poor,” Yadav said.