GMC Anantnag performs eight primary angioplasties in 12 hours

Younus Rashid
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07 Jan 2026

Anantnag, Jan 07: Government Medical College (GMC) Anantnag on Tuesday successfully performed eight primary angioplasties within 12 hours, from 8 am to 8 pm, on patients suffering acute heart attacks, doctors said. The procedures were carried out by the Department of Cardiology on patients with varied and high-risk clinical presentations. Hospital authorities said the average door-to-balloon time was maintained between 15 and 20 minutes, which is about 30 minutes faster than international standards. Dr Showkat Hussain Shah, Interventional Cardiologist at GMC Anantnag, said the achievement was the result of the rapid development of the primary angioplasty programme at the institution. He said all procedures were performed through the radial route, which reduces complications and improves patient comfort. “All eight patients, ranging from young to elderly and including high-risk cases, underwent successful procedures and were discharged the following morning,” he added. Dr Shah said that since the inauguration of the cath lab, GMC Anantnag has been providing advanced cardiac care to patients not only from Anantnag but also from Kulgam, Shopian, Banihal, Ramban, Doda, Kishtwar, Poonch and Rajouri, thereby reducing referrals to Srinagar and outside the Union Territory. He added that the cardiology department has performed more than 2,000 procedures in the last eight months, reflecting the steady expansion of services at the college. The department is supported by Dr Syed Maqbool, In-Charge Head, and cardiologists Dr Shamim Iqbal, Dr Showkat Hussain Shah and Dr Shahood Kakroo, along with other team members. Meanwhile, Dr Showkat Hussain Tali, Media Coordinator, GMC Anantnag, said the institution, with the continued support of Principal Prof Dr Rukhsana Najeeb, has been expanding its services to include almost all advanced cardiac procedures for which patients earlier had to travel to Srinagar or outside the state.