On Friday, after a review meeting with officials, Tamil Nadu health minister Ma Subramanian, announced that a panel of senior cardiologists would decide on protocols for nurses to follow to identify heart attack symptoms and administer preventive drugs after teleconsultation with the doctors.

In Tamil Nadu, heart attacks are among the leading causes of death, with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) killing over 25,000 individuals annually. The National Health Missions TN wing has collaborated with a network of hospitals to develop a hub-and-spoke form of treatment. However, medicine administered while waiting for an ambulance can help postpone the patient’s condition from deterioration.

Emergency loading dosages of blood thinners, which delay or prevent problems in patients with heart attack symptoms, will soon be accessible at more than 8,000 health sub-centers managed by nurses providing first-level care.

Shilpa Prabhakaran Satheesh, director of the Tamil Nadu NHM mission, stated that physicians are developing models to explore if this medicine can also be provided in ambulances with an aim of  preventing cardiac-related problems and fatalities.

Mr. Subramanian stated that district health authorities had been asked to find locations for CCTV cameras to be installed in PHCs, adding that the equipment will assist in monitoring the quality of service, staff attendance, and other medical crises.

He further added that districts have also been directed to identify PHCs in need of new facilities. New PHC buildings were being inaugurated every week. At least 500 additional PHCs will be constructed, with employees recruited through health societies. Officials in the district have also been directed to select 8km stretches of road with shade trees on either side to encourage residents to walk daily. There will be signs and hydration stops throughout the routes. Every month on the first Sunday, health workers will hold camps and check individuals for diabetes and hypertension and provide counseling and good living suggestions.

Food safety inspectors will undertake raids to verify that no pesticides are used to ripen seasonal fruits, that drinking water quality is tested, and that the prohibition on gutka and pan masala is enforced.

 (Source: https://health.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/industry/emergency-medicine-to-be-made-available-in-8000-health-centres-soon-in-tamil-nadu/99858028)