Hyderabad: President A P J Abdul Kalam on February 13 asked medical researchers to focus on application of stem cell research in activating the heart system.

Addressing a gathering of cardiovascular thoracic surgeons through video conference from Rashtrapati Bhavan in Delhi, Kalam said cardiac experts should find out reasons for high incidence of heart ailments in India.

Though angioplasty and bypass surgeries had become easily accessible in the country, several diseases of the heart continued to cause concern, he said.

The President was addressing delegates of the 49th annual conference of the Indian Association of Cardiovascular Thoracic Surgeons.

"The mission of cardiac surgeons is to reach out to maximum number of patients and provide treatment through low-cost technologies," Kalam said.

The four-day conference, being attended by over 1,000 cardiac surgeons from across the country, will deliberate on emerging trends in cardio thoracic surgery, new techniques to treat holes in the heart, leaking valves and stretched heart after heart attack.

PTI