Ladakh Achieves Healthcare Breakthrough: First-Ever Cath Lab Becomes Operational at SNM Hospital, Leh

In a significant milestone for the healthcare sector of the Union Territory of Ladakh, SNM Hospital Leh, has achieved a historic feat with the establishment and successful functioning of a state of the art Catheterization Laboratory (Cath Lab) at a cost of ₹6 crore under the National Health Mission (NHM).
This major advancement marks the beginning of a new era in cardiac care for the people of Ladakh, bringing life saving interventional cardiology services to the high altitude region for the first time.
The first Angiography procedure at the newly established Cath Lab was successfully conducted on a 45-year-old patient diagnosed with Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) by Dr. Lotos Gailson, Cardiologist SNM Hospital Leh, along with his dedicated Cath Lab team. The successful procedure represents a major step forward in providing advanced cardiac interventions locally, thus eliminating the need for patients to travel long distances to tertiary hospitals outside Ladakh.
The landmark event was witnessed by Dr. Tashi Thinles, Director Health Services UT Ladakh, Dr. Rinchen Chosdol Medical Superintendent SNM Hospital Leh, Dr. Jigmet Wangchuk Deputy Medical Superintendent SNM Hospital Leh, and the representative engineers of the Cath Lab.
Following the successful procedure, Dr. Tashi Thinles felicitated Dr. Lotos Gailson and the trained Cath Lab team members. Mr. Rinchen Dorjai, Mr. Feroz, Mrs. Putit, Mrs. Angmo, and Ms. Dolker who underwent specialized training in Cath Lab operations at AIIMS New Delhi. The representative engineers were also presented with traditional khataks as a token of appreciation for their technical expertise and contribution.
The establishment of the Cath Lab at SNM Hospital, Leh, stands as a testament to the vision and commitment of the Health Department, UT Ladakh, in strengthening tertiary healthcare infrastructure and ensuring the availability of advanced medical facilities in remote Himalayan regions.
This milestone marks a proud moment in Ladakh’s healthcare journey, paving the way for self reliance and excellence in cardiac care while promising to save countless lives in the years to come.