Chandigarh- Haryana’s Tele-ECG service has emerged as a lifesaving initiative for patients suffering from heart ailments. The effectiveness of the programme is evident from the fact that, within a short period of its launch, 2,688 patients across the state have already benefited from the service. Most significantly, the rapid diagnostic system identified 131 critically ill patients within just over a month, enabling timely medical intervention and saving their lives.
The Tele-ECG service was formally launched by Chief Minister, Sh. Nayab Singh Saini from Panchkula on May 29, 2026, in the presence of Health Minister, Ms. Arti Singh Rao. The initiative currently covers 600 government healthcare institutions across Haryana, including 71 District Civil Hospitals and Sub-Divisional Civil Hospitals, 121 Community Health Centres (CHCs), and 408 Primary Health Centres (PHCs). With this service now operational, patients in rural and remote areas can access specialist cardiac diagnosis close to their homes. This will significantly reduce unnecessary referrals to larger hospitals and prevent delays in treatment.
Life-Saving care during the ‘Golden Hour’
In medical science, the first hour after a heart attack is known as the “Golden Hour,” when immediate treatment offers the highest chance of survival. The Tele-ECG service is playing a crucial role in ensuring patients receive timely diagnosis and treatment during this critical period. The long-term objective of the initiative is to reduce premature deaths caused by cardiovascular diseases by one-third. Timely reporting and consultation by expert cardiologists are already leading to significantly improved patient outcomes.
ECG Report Within 10 Minutes for Just Rs.89
The service has been designed to be both affordable and efficient. Each ECG costs only Rs.89, which includes not only the ECG test but also interpretation and reporting by an expert cardiologist through tele-reporting technology within 10 minutes. The project has been approved by the Government of India under the Record of Proceedings (RoP) 2026-27. A budget of Rs. 2.92 crore has been sanctioned under the National Programme for Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases (NP-NCD) to support this digital health initiative.
Approximately 3,28,320 ECGs expected annually
Haryana has 192 District Civil Hospitals, Sub-Divisional Hospitals, and Community Health Centres, where an average of 100 ECGs per month is expected at each facility, resulting in approximately 2,30,400 ECGs annually, at an estimated cost of Rs. 2.05 crore. Besides this, the state’s 408 Primary Health Centres are expected to conduct around 20 ECGs per month each, resulting in 97,920 ECGs annually, at an estimated expenditure of Rs. 87.14 lakh. Overall, approximately 3,28,320 ECGs are expected to be conducted every year across Haryana under this programme.
Tele-ECG will revolutionise rural healthcare: Arti Singh Rao
Health Minister, Arti Singh Rao, expressing satisfaction over the success of the initiative and its future roadmap, said the Tele-ECG service marks a historic milestone in Haryana’s healthcare sector and has the potential to bring a healthcare revolution to the state’s rural areas. The Health Minister further said that the government remains committed to introducing more digital healthcare innovations across Haryana to ensure better health and safety for every citizen.
A Compassionate Initiative Inspired by a Tragic Incident
The Tele-ECG programme was conceived following a deeply tragic incident that profoundly impacted Health Minister, Ms Arti Singh Rao.Some time ago, the Minister was informed of a case in which a heart attack patient lost his life at a Sub-Divisional Hospital (SDH) because an ECG facility was not available. Without an ECG, doctors were unable to accurately assess the patient’s cardiac condition or confirm a heart attack in time. Had the facility been available, the patient could have been referred immediately to a higher healthcare centre during the Golden Hour, significantly increasing the chances of survival.
The incident deeply moved the Health Minister and prompted her to take immediate action. Rather than treating it as a mere incident, she directed senior officers of the Health Department to ensure that ECG facilities were made available at every level of the public healthcare system—from Sub-Divisional Hospitals to Primary Health Centres. It is this compassionate and visionary leadership that has resulted in the rollout of Tele-ECG services across 600 government healthcare institutions in Haryana.
