Madam Speaker, I wish to inform the House that previously there was no angiography machine at Jawaharlal Nehru hospital. It is now that the equipment is being installed and will be operational in the coming weeks. With regard to part (a)(i) of the question for the period 2020 to October 2025, I am informed that 10,489 angiography cases were performed at Victoria hospital. During the same period, 1,026 patients from Jawaharlal Nehru hospital requiring angiography procedures have been referred to other hospitals. Madam Speaker, with regard to waiting lists, I am also informed that as at October 2025, there were 46 patients on the waiting list at Jawaharlal Nehru Hospital, whose waiting time is of approximately three weeks; and at Victoria Hospital, there were 380 patients on the waiting list with a waiting time of 11 weeks.

71 Madam Speaker, as regards part (a) (ii) of the question, there are currently five angiography machines that are available in public hospitals with one installed at Dr. Jeetoo Hospital, two at Cardiac Trust Fund for Specialised Medical Care, SSR National Hospital, Pamplemousses and two at Victoria Hospital. In addition, the angiography machine, which was left unutilised at Dr. Jeetoo Hospital, has been transferred to Jawaharlal Nehru Hospital. Moreover, with the setting up of Cath-lab services at Jawaharlal Nehru Hospital and SAJ Hospital, the number of angiography procedures will definitely reduce the waiting time, thus relieving the suffering of our patients. Madam Speaker, with regard to part (b) of the question, my Ministry is resorting to extra sessions after normal working hours to curb down the waiting time for angiography procedures. In the meantime, training is being provided to paramedical staff in order to enable them to provide adequate angiography services. Madam Speaker, the House may wish to note that there has not been any action to provide angiography services at Jawaharlal Nehru Hospital for the past seeming years despite the fact that there was a Minister of Health from this particular region. Nothing was done to alleviate the suffering of the people in the southern part, and patients had to be referred to other hospitals. Adding insult to injury, our angiography machines donated by the Government of Japan were left idle at Dr. Jeetoo for nearly 6 months and was eventually transferred to Cardiac Trust Fund SSR National Hospital, Pamplemousses. It is regretful that this machine could have been transferred to Jawaharlal Nehru Hospital, where optimum life- saving intervention could have been made to relief the inhabitants of the southern region. In the meantime, training is also being provided to medical and paramedical staff to use the angiography machine at Jawaharlal Nehru Hospital. I wish to inform the House that one angiography will be installed at Flacq Hospital in 2026. The procurement procedures have already been initiated for the acquisition of this equipment which will provide a proximity service to patients in the eastern region.

Yes, Madam!

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Would the hon. Minister consider the implementation of setting up of a formal framework with a view to developing and using an evidence-based system based on the clinical needs and urgency of patients?

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Madam Speaker, all these things are being looked into. I can even now announce that by next year, the Rose Belle Hospital will have additional departments, including one Renal Department which is being provided by the Government of India. Apart from this, there will also be other surgical operations which will be conducted, including lung surgery.

Lung surgery! Lung, yes! Okay, you are alright? Hon. Seeburn! BOIS DES AMOURETTES – FOOTBALL PITCH – DISCREPANCIES & REMEDIAL WORKS