Madam Speaker, complaints have been received regarding the long waiting time faced by the inhabitants of the southern regions before undergoing coronary angiography and angioplasty. This is due to the fact that the Jawaharlal Nehru Hospital has not been equipped with an angiography machine. Accordingly, patients requiring routine and emergency coronary angiography and angioplasty had to be referred to the Trust Fund for Specialised Medical Care for treatment. Madam Speaker, as at 31 December 2024, there were 121 patients on the waiting list at Jawaharlall Nehru Hospital. Since July 2023, an angiography machine had been transferred from Cardiac Centre Trust Fund for Specialised Medical Care to Jawaharlal Nehru Hospital, but the equipment has been non-functional. However, I have to highlight that electrical works, including air conditioning, have been contracted out and will be completed by 16 February 2025. Additionally, the CAT-lab comprising five cardiologists, trained nursing staff and 18 ICU beds has also been set up there. Madam Speaker, the preinstallation works for the angiography machine are almost completed at Jawaharlal Nehru Hospital and the machine will be operational around mid- February 2025, thus alleviating the plight of the inhabitants of the region. Nonetheless, being a second-hand machine, the angiography equipment has to be tested to assess its functionality. In the same vein, my Ministry is exploring the possibility of acquiring new angiography equipment in the future.

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Thank you. PQ B/28 will be replied by the hon. Minister of Social Integration. So, hon. First Member for Rodrigues, Ms Collet! RODRIGUES – FATAL ROAD ACCIDENTS – FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE MECHANISM