Arogyasri's 'hearty' gesture to a teenage girl

Vijayawada, Apr 15 (UNI) The 'Arogyasri' Community Health Insurance Scheme came to the rescue of a teenage girl with a fatal cardiac infirmity by meeting the expenses for the surgery to rectify irregular heart-beat.

The surgery was performed by a team of doctors at Pinnamaneni Care Hospital recently, Hospital medical director N Murali Krishna told the reporters here yesterday.

Ratna (19), hailing from Anantapur district, was suffering from a cardiac problem since her childhood and the heart-beat slowed down to 20/30 per minute as she grew up.

A permanent pacemaker powered by battery 'Lithian' was implanted below the clavical bone through the surgery.

The battery with a longevity of 10 to 12 years would now be replaced after the expiry of the period.

The surgery normally costing Rs 1 lakh was done free of cost as the patient came under Arogyasri scheme.

Ratna would be discharged in a week's time, Dr Krishna added.

UNI