Gogoi to be fit to travel in two weeks

Guwahati, Sep 19 (IANS) Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi will be fit to travel and free from all medication in nearly two weeks, eminent cardiac surgeon Ramakant Panda who performed triple surgeries on him said Saturday.

'The chief minister is doing excellent. I would say within the next 15 days he should be able to travel and roam around freely like he did in the past. By that time, all medicines would also be stopped,' Panda told IANS.

The cardiac surgeon from Mumbai's Asian Heart Institute was in Guwahati to examine Gogoi, following the surgeries last month.

'He is mentally so strong that he has recovered much beyond our expectations,' Panda said.

The well-known cardiac surgeon said doctors at the Mumbai institute were ready to collaborate with the medical colleges in Assam to share expertise.

'There could be several ways by which we can help people in the northeast. We are ready to send doctors from Mumbai to the medical colleges in Assam for sharing expertise and doctors from Assam can also visit our institute,' Panda said.

'The next possible option we are contemplating is having a branch of the Asian Heart Institute in Guwahati with the support of the Assam government,' he added.

The surgeon also announced free treatment for poor people at the Asian Heart Institute.

'We are ready to extend all possible financial support and arrange free treatment to children and adults from poor families as we have some Trusts working for the benefit of the underprivileged sections,' he said.

The Asian Heart Institute is one of the best hospitals for cardiac surgery in Asia. Panda and his team have conducted about 15,000 surgeries, including that of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.