Surat, May 26 -- In a major boost to public healthcare, Surat New Civil Hospital in Gujarat has launched the state's first advanced Biplane Cath Lab under the Super Speciality Project, officials said.

Built for Rs 12 crore, the facility will provide free cardiac, neurological and vascular treatments, including angiography, angioplasty, pacemaker implantation and emergency stroke care.

Hospital authorities said procedures that usually cost up to Rs 50,000 in private hospitals will now be available free of cost for patients at the government-run facility.

Medical Superintendent of New Civil Hospital, Dr Dharitri Parmar, said the advanced system would help doctors quickly identify and treat stroke cases.

"When a stroke occurs, a nerve in...