early times report
Poonch, June 29: To Strengthen their campaign to aware the common populace about the ill effects of cardiovascular Diseases Head Department of cardiology GMCH Jammu in Collaboration with management of Gurudwara Sant Bhai Bahadur Singh Ji held a day long Cardiac awareness Cum health Checkup Camp at Dharamsal Khari Poonch .
The camp was inaugurated by SSP Poonch Shafket Hussain, Dr Sushil Sharma along with ADC Tahir Mustafa , S. Harcharan Singh, S. Hardev Singh ,Sunil Sharma ( President Bar Association Poonch ) , Naresh Chander Raj ( Ex Councillor MC) , Mohinder Singh ( Ex Councillor MC ) and others prominent members of the area .
The camp offered free medical consultations, distribution of essential medicines, and on-site diagnostic evaluations, aiming to detect and manage conditions early, especially among underserved populations.
While interacting with the people Dr Sushil stated that cardiovascular disease (CVD) continues to be the leading cause of mortality globally, and India is no exception.
While urban India has witnessed significant advancements in cardiac care, rural India lags dangerously behind. In 2025, despite the existence of several healthcare policies, cardiovascular health in rural regions remains a pressing concern .With over 65% of India’s population living in rural areas, the burden of CVD is disproportionately high in these regions. As per the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2024 report, cardiovascular diseases account for nearly 28% of total deaths in rural India.
This alarming statistic is driven by a lack of timely diagnosis, poor access to trained specialists, and inadequate follow-up care. We need to work together to bridge the cardiovascular care gap in rural India and improve health outcomes for millons of people .
He elaborated that over 80% of India’s cardiologists are located in major cities. This urban-centric distribution leaves rural areas with few or no specialists.
As a result, patients are often forced to travel long distances for even basic cardiac consultations or procedures. Most rural health centers lack essential diagnostic tools such as ECG machines, echocardiography, TMT facilities, and even basic lab equipment. Many centers also struggle with power shortages, insufficient medical staff hampering emergency care and routine screenings alike.
Low awareness about symptoms of heart disease, and risk factors such as hypertension, diabetes, smoking, and obesity, leads to late presentation and complications. According to ICMR data from 2023, nearly 40% of rural adults with high blood pressure were unaware of their condition. The lack of structured EMS systems in rural areas means patients suffering from acute events like myocardial infarctions (heart attacks) often miss the critical “golden hour” for intervention.
The resulting complications include irreversible damage, heart failure, and sudden death, He Added.
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