Doctors to live it up on cardiac cruise

Most cardio-thoracic surgeons, cardiologists and senior physicians from Bihar and Jharkhand are taking off on Saturday for a week-long medical extravaganza, reports Binod Dubey.

If you live in Bihar or Jharkhand and get a heart attack this week, try postponing it. Most cardiologists, cardio-thoracic surgeons and senior physicians from the two states are taking off on Saturday for a week-long “medical extravaganza on the high seas”.

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With pharma companies bearing most expenses, doctors appear to be viewing a chance to participate in the 14th annual conference of the Indian College of Cardiology at Singapore on September 24 as the opportunity of a lifetime. World Heart Day falls on September 24.

Of the 786 delegates participating, 117 doctors are from Bihar alone. There are around as many from Jharkhand.

Organising secretary

Dr UC Samal said the participants have been drawn from government and private medical institutions across the country. He said about Rs 4 crore would be spent on the conclave. “The money will come partly from the delegates and partly from pharmaceutical companies,” Samal said.

The delegate fee is Rs 45,000 a person. It includes air travel, stay on Luxury liner Virgo of Star Cruises, six-course meals, a night’s stay at Singapore and excursions to Penang and Phuket. A few lectures have been scheduled, but mostly, it’s a chance for doctors to relax with their families till September 28.

The invitation reads further, “We have planned to take you far away from the grime and sweat of the city and the agonising cries of your patients to the calm, soothing waves of the Indian Ocean....”