Manipal Hospital is going to implant pace makers free of cost to economically deprived heart patients in Karnataka. Pacemaker implantation, which normally costs about Rs.1.25 lakh, would now be available to poor patients having cardiac arrhythmias.

This service is fully sponsored by the Rotary Bangalore East, in association with the Heart Beat International (HBI) a charity organisation based in Florida, USA.

The project, which began in November 2000, has successfully completed implantations on 19 patients hailing from different parts of Karnataka till now. "Even the follow-up and subsequent treatment including replacement of pace makers is done without any charge," said Dr. Subhash Chandra, chief cardiologist, Manipal Hospital who has played an active part in this project.

The HBI collects pacemakers by identifying hospitals across the world, which could provide such aids through a local Rotary Club branch, he explained.

In order to ensure that the facility reaches only the needy a Rotary Club member visits the house of the patient before giving the final approval for surgery, Dr. Chandra added.