Gujarat Expands Cardiac Care Access as Heart Disease Claims 31% of India’s Deaths

GANDHINAGAR, June 3, 2026 — In a major effort to combat a growing cardiovascular crisis, Gujarat’s health authorities today finalized a comprehensive blueprint to decentralize specialized cardiac treatments across the state. This initiative follows a historic, high-volume year at the U.N. Mehta Institute of Cardiology and Research Centre, which performed a record-breaking 8,504 successful heart surgeries and managed more than 3.94 lakh outpatient consultations in 2025.

During a high-level review meeting in Gandhinagar, State Health Minister Praful Pansheriya examined the construction progress of a network of regional satellite cardiac centers. This infrastructure expansion is designed to shift tertiary cardiac care away from a single, centralized hub in Ahmedabad and move life-saving treatment closer to rural and underserved populations.

The initiative comes at a critical time for public health. Data from the Registrar General of India’s recent Report on Causes of Death reveals that cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) now account for an astonishing 31% of all deaths nationwide, making it the leading cause of mortality in India.

Decentralizing High-Volume Cardiac Care

The U.N. Mehta Institute, an affiliate of BJ Medical College in Ahmedabad, is already one of the largest single super-specialty cardiac teaching hospitals in the world, boasting 1,251 beds and 15 operation theaters. However, its sheer volume of patients underscores the immense pressure on the state’s healthcare infrastructure. In 2025 alone, alongside thousands of surgeries, the institute managed 52,167 critically ill inpatients.

“The institute carried out 8,504 successful cardiac surgeries… and around 52,167 critically ill patients received treatment under inpatient services,” Health Minister Pansheriya stated. “Gujarat today is emerging not only as a highly reliable and modern healthcare hub for the citizens of the state, but also for patients coming from other states and from abroad.”

To manage this burden, the state has allocated ₹167 crore within its 2026–27 budget specifically to establish and upgrade satellite centers in:

• Surat

• Bhavnagar

• Porbandar

• Sola (Ahmedabad)

• Rajkot

• Gandhinagar

The already operational Gandhinagar satellite center—equipped with 96 beds, 2 modular operation theaters, a sophisticated cardiac catheterization lab (Cathlab), and 60 ICU beds—serves as the blueprint for these upcoming facilities.

India’s Escalating Cardiovascular Crisis

Gujarat’s aggressive healthcare expansion reflects a broader national emergency. The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that CVDs comprise 27% of all non-communicable disease deaths in India. Furthermore, India’s CVD mortality rate stands at 272 per 100,000 individuals, significantly outstripping the global average of 235.

National Cardiovascular Disease Metrics at a Glance

A 2025 systematic review published in the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) notes that India accounts for one-fifth of global CVD-related deaths, with an alarming rise among younger, working-age populations.

“Cardiovascular diseases are increasingly affecting younger demographics across India,” says Dr. Rajesh Kumar, a cardiologist at AIIMS New Delhi who is not involved in the Gujarat project.

“Decentralizing cardiac care through satellite centers is essential because ‘time is muscle.’ In acute cardiac events, every minute of delay increases tissue damage and mortality rates. Moving tertiary facilities closer to rural communities removes massive geographic and financial barriers.”

Dual Strategy: Financial Protection and Infrastructure

To ensure that expanded physical infrastructure is accessible to low- and middle-income families, the state is relying heavily on the revamped Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana-Mukhyamantri Amrutam (PMJAY-MA) scheme.

The revised insurance scheme covers approximately 2.73 crore citizens in Gujarat, offering cashless treatment up to ₹10 lakh per family annually across 2,300 medical procedures—including complex coronary artery bypass surgeries and heart transplants. At the U.N. Mehta Institute alone, 17,683 cardiac procedures were performed under various government welfare schemes during the 2024–25 fiscal year.

This financial cushion is backed by a record-high state health budget allocation of ₹25,403.23 crore for the 2026–27 fiscal year, marking an 8.63% increase over the previous year.

Key Challenges and Limitations

Despite the optimistic infrastructure rollouts, public health policy experts urge a balanced perspective, pointing to several structural hurdles:

• Workforce Deficits: Building state-of-the-art Cathlabs and operating theaters is simpler than staffing them. India faces a chronic shortage of trained cardiothoracic surgeons, cardiac anesthesiologists, and specialized perfusionists.

• The Preventive Gap: Treating end-stage heart disease does not address why people are getting sick. According to data from the World Heart Federation, 15% of the Indian population uses tobacco and 21.1% lives with hypertension—two primary drivers of heart disease.

• Coverage Blind Spots: While the PMJAY-MA scheme covers an estimated 2.73 crore residents, health economists suggest that roughly 40% of Gujarat’s total population may still fall outside this safety net, leaving them vulnerable to catastrophic out-of-pocket medical costs.

“The ultimate goal must be comprehensive cardiovascular health,” emphasizes Dr. Anjali Sharma, a public health specialist at the Public Health Foundation of India. “While expanding tertiary treatment capacity is necessary, it must be paired with aggressive primary preventive care, including community-level blood pressure control, smoking cessation programs, and early diabetes management.”

What This Means for Patients

For everyday residents of Gujarat—particularly those living in historically underserved areas like Porbandar and Bhavnagar—this expansion translates into tangible health benefits:

1. Reduced Travel Times: Patients will no longer need to travel hundreds of kilometers to Ahmedabad for basic angioplasties or cardiac evaluations.

2. Faster Emergency Care: The health department is adding 71 new specialized vehicles to its “108” ambulance fleet to improve emergency transit times during acute heart attacks.

3. Mitigated Financial Risk: Expanded access to PMJAY-MA paneled hospitals protects families from medical bankruptcy due to unexpected cardiac events.

However, medical experts remind the public that secondary treatment centers are a last line of defense. Maintaining a balanced diet, engaging in regular physical activity, and undergoing annual screenings for blood pressure and cholesterol remain the most effective tools against India’s leading killer.

Medical Disclaimer

Medical Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. Always consult with qualified healthcare professionals before making any health-related decisions or changes to your treatment plan. The information presented here is based on current research and expert opinions, which may evolve as new evidence emerges.

References

• https://www.socialnews.xyz/2026/06/03/gujarat-govt-reviews-statewide-expansion-of-cardiac-care/