India records an estimated 2.5 lakh congenital heart disease (CHD) cases every year, yet only 30,000–40,000 pediatric cardiac surgeries are performed nationwide, leaving a significant treatment deficit, according to Dr. Viresh Mahajan, Chairman, Pediatric Cardiac Sciences, Yatharth Group of Hospitals. The unmet burden is driven by delayed diagnosis, limited awareness, inadequate distribution of specialised pediatric cardiac centres, and prohibitive treatment costs.
Experts estimate that nearly two lakh children with correctable congenital cardiac defects remain untreated annually, many progressing to advanced complications or mortality due to lack of timely intervention. Dr. Mahajan highlighted that a substantial proportion of children presenting with septal defects and other congenital anomalies are clinically operable and capable of achieving normal long-term outcomes following early…
