The Norvic-Escorts Health Care and Research Centre, Nepal has established
a state-of-the-art Cathlab, a technology that allows doctors to pinpoint cardiac anomalies with better accuracy.

The machine provides a magnified screen image of the heart and coronary arteries and helps to identify the problems causing chest pains, defective valves and heart attacks, says a press release. The cost of coronary angiography on the Cathlab
costs about Rs 25,000, which is about the same it would in India, but saves travel costs and mental stress, it adds.

The machine has an on line connection with the Escorts Heart Institute and Research Centre in New Delhi allowing simultaneous diagnostics both in Kathmandu and Delhi, in addition to specialist consultations. Since May 1999, Norvic has provided cardiac consultations to over 4,500 patients. It is estimated that 10 percent of the 23 million Nepalis are susceptible to heart ailments.