Goa’s emergency cardiac care system is drawing attention after data presented at the National Cardiovascular Summit showed that patients with severe heart attacks can receive rapid diagnosis and treatment through the state’s STEMI care network.
The data showed that patients reaching public healthcare facilities in Goa typically receive an ECG-based diagnosis within about 12 minutes. When thrombolysis is required, the clot-dissolving treatment is administered within around 19 minutes, before patients are referred to higher-level centres for further treatment such as angioplasty.
Goa introduced its hub-and-spoke STEMI model in 2019, connecting Goa Medical College and Hospital with primary health centres. The network has since expanded to 20 primary health centres, allowing patients to begin emergency cardiac care closer to where they first seek medical help.
The system uses ECG technology that can be assessed remotely by specialists, while doctors at lower-level facilities are trained to provide thrombolysis when appropriate. This helps reduce delays before patients reach tertiary cardiac centres.
According to the data presented at the summit, patients in Goa reach hospitals in an average of 2 hours and 11 minutes, compared with reported national figures ranging from 4.5 to 13 hours. The same data showed in-hospital deaths from acute heart attacks falling from 7.2% in 2019 to 1% currently.
Similar STEMI networks are being implemented in several other states, including Maharashtra, Karnataka, Telangana, Odisha, Bihar and Manipur. The Goa experience highlights how rapid diagnosis, trained frontline doctors, treatment availability and coordinated referrals can work together in time-sensitive heart emergencies.
