Vellore GH: First surgery performed at Ward 500

VELLORE: Panneerselvam (43) of Konavattam became the first patient to receive surgical treatment under the Chief Minister’s Comprehensive Medical Insurance Scheme at the specially established ‘Ward 500’ at the Vellore Government Medical College Hospital on Wednesday.He was operated for sinus with the help of the endoscope, by a team of doctors led by Dr Sivakumar, acting superintendent of the hospital, and assisted by Dr Suresh and anaesthetist Shanthi Malar. Dr Sivakumar said that Panneerselvam was found to be suffering from nasal block, headache and was breathing through his mouth for over ten years. He was obese and had hypertension. The block found between his eyes and brain had to be operated with the help of an endoscope. The surgery  relieved the patient. If he had undergone the surgery in a private hospital it would have cost him around ` 50,000 which he received free under the insurance scheme.