President Ramchandra Paudel on Tuesday underwent heart surgery at Manmohan Cardiothoracic Vascular and Transplant Center to have a pacemaker implanted.

According to Dr Ratna Mani Gajurel, executive director at the hospital, the device was implanted on the recommendation of experts, which according to them was necessary to stabilise the President’s slow heartbeat.

“A permanent pacemaker has been implanted successfully today (Tuesday),” reads the statement issued by Gajurel. “ His (President’s) health condition is normal.”

Paudel was admitted to the hospital on Friday night after he complained of uneasiness.

On June 13, Paudel complained of chest pain and was admitted to Shahid Gangalal National Heart Centre, where he underwent an angioplasty.

President Ramchandra Paudel, 78, has not been keeping well since he assumed office on March 13.

Less than a month after assuming office, on April 1, Paudel was admitted to the Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital at Maharajgunj, Kathmandu after complaining of a problem in his abdomen. The next day, the hospital discharged him after some treatment.

After experiencing shortness of breath and fatigue, he was again admitted to the Teaching Hospital on April 18. Doctors attending to Paudel said that his blood oxygen levels had dipped.

He was also flown to India for treatment on April 19.