In a week that brought hope to families across Telangana, Nizam’s Institute of Medical Sciences (NIMS) in Hyderabad wrapped up its fifth pediatric cardiac surgery camp, performing 19 complex heart surgeries completely free of charge. These are procedures that, in private hospitals, can drain families of ₹5 lakh to a staggering ₹20 lakh each.

Key facts

  • 19 free pediatric heart surgeries performed
  • Costs saved per family: ₹5-20 lakh
  • 1,000 children screened during the camp
  • Collaboration with UK-based Healing Little Hearts

A Lifeline for Families

The surgeries, conducted from September 6-12, 2026, involved children aged two months to 13 years. The NIMS Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery worked alongside Healing Little Hearts, a specialist team led by UK-based pediatric cardiac surgeon Dr. Ramana Dhanapuneni. Dr. M. Amaresh Rao, Head of Cardiothoracic Surgery at NIMS, emphasized that the team prioritized complex congenital cases—the kind that often leave families scrambling for funds.

“Congenital heart disease is common and the cost of paediatric cardiac surgery in private hospitals can be prohibitive for many families,” said Dr. Ramana. “Hope for the poor is public sector hospitals like NIMS.”

Beyond the Operating Room

While 19 children received surgery, the camp’s impact rippled further. Approximately 1,000 children were screened, with some requiring less invasive interventions. Still, more than 100 children remain on the waiting list—their surgery dates already allotted. Dr. Amaresh noted that Telangana has about 7,000 children with critical congenital heart diseases. NIMS currently performs 400 pediatric cardiac surgeries annually, but the department aims to reach 1,000 per year to meet the overwhelming need.

Growing Partnership, Expanding Access

This was the fifth camp held through the collaboration between Dr. Dhanapuneni’s team and NIMS, a partnership that began in 2023. NIMS Director Rahul Devraj confirmed that these camps have resulted in approximately 80 surgeries so far. He expressed a desire for the team to visit twice a year, ensuring continued institutional support. In another significant step, ECMO services became available under the Aarogyasri scheme at NIMS—though no patient required it during this camp. Now, eligible patients can access this life-support technology free of cost, for as long as medically necessary.