‘Low-cost bio prosthetic valves can save valuable lives’

The 30-year-old spoke of the battle she had been waging. “My husband was unwell and we didn’t know what was wrong with him. He used to get breathless, and was unable to work. As a farm labourer, he could earn Rs 200 a day. When I went to work instead of him, I was given only Rs 100 for the same work. He was later diagnosed with a heart condition. We spent Rs 12,000 on treatment, it was beyond our means,” she says. 

Her husband E Kumar, 37, was brought to Frontier Lifeline Hospital in a serious state, gasping for breath. He was admitted to the hospital, on March 6, two years after he had undergone surgery for damaged heart valve.  After carrying out the tests, the doctors found that one of the leaflets of the valve that was replaced earlier was not functioning. The doctors tried de-clotting the valve, but after that failed, he was taken up for surgery at 3 am. His valve was re-replaced. “It was a case of rheumatic fever,” revealed Dr KM Cherian. “He had undergone a valve replacement here and was on strict medication. We tried de-clotting the valve but later decided to replace the prosthetic valve again.” 

Rheumatic fever is an inflammatory disease that usually affects the connective tissues of the body. Almost 60% of people with rheumatic fever develop some degree of subsequent heart disease. A common outcome of rheumatic fever is heart valve damage. 

For people like Kumar, the cost-effective (Rs 22,000) prosthetic valve is a lifesaver. Developed at Frontier Mediville, the first SEZ Medical Park in India, the centre is one-stop solution for healthcare, education, training and research. “We are awaiting the nod from the Drug Controller General of India for the trials that are in the third stage for a bio-prosthetic valve (biological and metal). If that happens, we would be the third country after the US and Brazil to manufacture these valves,” explains Dr Cherian. 

“However, there have been many hassles. A few ‘so-called experts’ tell us that rheumatic heart disease is not a problem in India. As many as 4 million people suffer from it,” he says. 

Located in Elavur village in Tiruvallur, Mediville employs poor women who are trained, free-of-cost in medical research. This is also why International Women’s Day, which falls on March 8, has been special, though this year several complications dampened the spirit a bit. “March 8 also happens to be my birthday, but I was in no mood to celebrate. But then I thought about the true meaning of the day. Here was a tale of bravery and survival in front of me. I decided to make Uma our chief guest. It was a day of extreme importance to her,” he says. Uma smiled recalling the celebration. “I wanted to just fall at doctor’s feet, but instead, he honoured me,” she said. 

Dr Cherian says people like Uma would benefit if India joins starts producing the valves. “Women’s Day sloganeering means very little if we can’t help people like her. These valves are going to benefit those in SAARC and Pan-African regions that have a high incidence of the condition. Indigenisation alone can make healthcare affordable,” he affirms. That would be a mammoth contribution to ‘Make in India’ campaign.