Puneeth Jyoti: 10 lives saved in fortnight

Bengaluru: A total of 10 lives were saved in a fortnight since the govt started providing free tenecteplase injections at 86 govt hospitals across Karnataka. Used as a first line of treatment for heart attack patients, tenecteplase injections are easy to administer and provide up to 24 hours time for the next line of treatment.
This injections are provided for free under the Puneeth Rajkumar Hrudaya Jyoti Yojana under phase two of the ST-Elevated Myocardial Infarction (STEMI) programme by the govt of Karnataka.
Health and family welfare department officials said Karnataka is the first state in the country to provide tenecteplase injections in govt setups. Launched in Nov 2023, the injections reached the spoke hospitals mid-June after committee meetings, tendering process, and ensuring cold storage facilities.
Dr Srinivas, deputy director of non-communicable diseases, told TOI that 12 MI (myocardial infarctions or heart attack) patients were administered tenecteplase injections for free and 10 of them survived.
According to Dr Srinivas, the state hospitals earlier used streptokinase injections (thrombolytic medication) for managing heart attacks at the initial phase of management. However, it was not used much in district and taluk hospitals. Although streptokinase cost less, it was cumbersome to administer, taking hours to give through saline, said officials. They added that bleeding complications and the training required to administer it decreased its use further in govt setups.
Tenecteplase injections, costing Rs 28,000 a vial, allowed for bolus administration—a quick shot to the vein, he said. About 450 medical personnel, including physicians, nurses, and ambulance drivers were trained in administering it. “We have procured 20mg, 30mg, and 40mg of tenecteplase. About Rs 8 crore worth of purchases are made. A tender has been called for another Rs 25 crores,” he added.
Dr Uma M, state STEMI coordinator, told TOI: “Providing thrombolytic medication is just the first phase of management of heart attacks. Once given, patients get up to 24 hours to get to the next phase of treatment, depending on their reaction to the drug. They need to be taken to a hospital with cardio cath lab facilities, where angioplasty, angiogram and coronary bypass are done.”
“In the first phase of STEMI, we have installed STEMI kits that have an AI and cloud mechanism to detect MI in 86 spoke centres,”she added.
Prevention and early detection are key to reduce heart attack fatalities, She said, stating the high-risk factors include obesity and tobacco consumption. An uneasy feeling and giddiness should prompt people to go an ECG done.