Hyderabad, July 2021: Apollo Hospitals, hosted a unique and colorful march past to commemorate the National Doctors’ Day. The hospital staff from across departments took part in the march past and greeted the Doctors present on a podium, as they passed by, at Apollo Health City, Jubilee Hills, today.The impressive celebrations were organized as a mark of reverence and to express immense gratitude to the Doctor community for their unparalleled commitment and dedication to patient care in the most trying of circumstances, prevailing due to COVID 19. The march past had all the pomp and gaiety associated with festivities. The security personnel led the march to the melodious and rhythmic tunes of Police band. The other marching contingents comprised of Bike ambulances, Critical care ambulances and staff from different departments, holding placards, banners, applauding the initiative of Doctors.Speaking on the occasion Mr Y Subramanyam, Regional CEO, Apollo Hospitals, Hyderabad; said, only a Doctor is blessed with the magical powers to treat a life, bring health in our lives and be there with us when we have lost all the hopes and that’s the reason Doctors are precious. But for patient’s every day is a Doctors’ day as during their moment of distress and trauma no one else can be their saviour.Dr Ravinder Babu, Medical Superintendent, Apollo Hospitals, Jubilee Hills; said, when the pandemic struck last year, like everyone else the doctors too perceived enormous risk to themselves and their families, but the commitment to the patients is what kept them going. That dedication is what overweighed all other considerations, empowered them to bravely confront the disease despite personal risk and that made a difference to several lives. For every Doctor the prime concern is how to save his patient from distress and for that they go to any extent, even risking their lives.Dr. P. Vijay Anand Reddy, Director, Apollo Cancer Institute, Apollo Hospitals, Hyderabad; said, as a Doctor the love and trust we win from the patients after successfully treating them merits above everything else. All of us in this profession strive for that moment of joy the patient expresses and that gives us the ultimate satisfaction.About Apollo HospitalsIt was in 1983, that Dr. Prathap C Reddy made a pioneering endeavor by launching India’s first corporate hospital – Apollo Hospitals in Chennai. Now, as Asia’s foremost trusted integrated healthcare group, its presence includes over 12,000 beds across 72 Hospitals, 3800 pharmacies, over 120 Primary Care clinics and 650 Diagnostic centers, 700 plus Teleclinics, over 15 medical education centers and a Research Foundation with a focus on global Clinical Trials. The most recent investment being the commissioning of Southeast Asia’s very first Proton Therapy Centre in Chennai.Every four days, the Apollo Hospitals Group touches a million lives, in its mission to bring healthcare of international standards within the reach of every individual. In a rare honor, the Government of India had issued a commemorative stamp in recognition of Apollo’s contribution, the first for a healthcare organization. Apollo Hospitals Chairman, Dr. Prathap C Reddy, was conferred with the prestigious Padma Vibhushan in 2010. For 38 years, the Apollo Hospitals Group has continuously excelled and maintained leadership in medical innovation, world-class clinical services and cutting-edge technology. Its hospitals are consistently ranked amongst the best hospitals in the country for advanced medical services.

A seven year old boy with rare ‘Wilson’s Disease’ and fighting for life, was transplanted with liver at Apollo Hospitals!Hyderabad, February, 2017: Transplant Team at Apollo Hospitals performed liver transplant on a kid fighting for his life due to a genetic disorder – Wilson’s Disease and acute Liver failure, needing immediate medical intervention. The surgery was performed against all odds, using a slice from his mother’s liver.  Seven year old, Master T. Siddhartha Reddy, from Jeedimetla, was fighting for his life when he was first seen by Pediatric Hepatologist at Apollo Hospitals, Jubilee Hills, Dr Ramesh Srinivasan. Investigations revealed that he was suffering from a rare ailment called Wilson’s disease and Acute Liver Failure. Wilson’s disease is a genetic disorder in which copper builds up abnormally in the liver, eyes and brain. This overload of copper in the liver results in Liver failure. Often an otherwise apparently normal child can suffer with life threatening acute liver failure in this setting, warranting urgent liver transplantation, says Dr Ramesh Srinivasan. Majority of the people with the Wilson’s gene will be carriers of the gene and will not manifest the disease.It all began in the last week of December when Siddhartha Reddy was found to have jaundice. A spell on fever on the New Year day made his condition worse and the already diseased liver gave up entirely. His blood clotting parameters became abnormal and the INR – a measure of the blood’s ability to form clots; climbed up to 6.7, the normal value should be 1. When the liver is diseased this value increases and such patients are at a very high risk of bleeding at multiple sites in the body, including the brain. The alarming parameters prompted Dr Srinivasan to involve the liver transplant team at Apollo Hospitals, Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad.“When we saw the patient, he had very high bilirubin levels and his clotting parameters were so abnormal, we had to give him Fresh Frozen Plasma to keep his INR in the safe limit”, says Dr Manish Varma, Chief Liver Transplant Surgeon at Apollo Hospitals, Jubilee Hills.Siddhartha was immediately listed in the super-urgent category with Jeevandan. However, the team of doctors knew that they could not wait indefinitely and the patient was fast running out of time. Thankfully, the boy’s mother, a homemaker, had a matching blood group and the liver was found to be fit for donation. The next challenge to overcome was thelong weekend to follow starting with Sankranti holiday, necessitating completion of all the tests and the medico-legal paperwork within a day. The entire team including the Social work department worked overtime to make this happen and the medical tests for the donor, the legal paperwork were done within the day and the hospital authorization committee was requested to give an expedited clearance for the operation.The liver transplant took place in the early hours on 14th January, 2017 and was performed by a team led by Dr Manish C. Varma. However, for the transplant team challenges were far from over. The part of the liver that the mother donated, came with two very small blood vessels. The size of the vessels was 1 mm and 1.5 mm. “It is technically very challenging to join blood vessels that are small and the chances of they clotting again in the post-operative period was also very high, explained Dr. Manish Varma. Further the boy had to be given blood thinning medicines immediately after the transplant, which increases the risk of post-operative bleeding. How the highly experience Transplant team at Apollo Hospitals, weathering all the challenges and triumphantly completed the surgery. The boy has since recovered and has been discharged. 

Apollo Hospitals, Chennai, organized a scoliosis awareness walkathon at Colombo Independence Square with a primary objective of enlightening the public about making a scoliosis free Sri Lanka.The walk was organized in association with Serendib Group and Lanka E Doc Company. The event witnessed the participation of a multitude of individuals, including prominent figures from various fields. Dr. Niluka Welikala, President of both organizing entities, emphasized the global necessity of creating awareness among parents regarding scoliosis in children, which has a high incidence among adolescent girls in Sri Lanka.Dr. Welikala also highlighted that the dearth of awareness among parents has resulted in a diminished capacity to prevent the progression of the disease in children. Hence, she stressed the crucial role of educating parents about scoliosis. Among the notable participants were Dr. Panwila Ananda Thero, Head of Attanagalla Rajamaha Vihara, and Venerable Thiniyawala Palitha Thero. Justice Minister Vijayadasa Rajapaksa, Minister of State for Transport Lasantha Alagiyawanna, and Dr. Sajan K Hegde, Chief Spine Surgeon, Apollo Hospitals, Dr Appaji Krishan Senior Spine Surgeon Apollo Hospitals and Dr Ruwanthi Perara, Senior Consultant Paediatrician, along with other Indian and Sri Lankan specialist doctors.Dr. Niluka Welikala expressed gratitude for the support extended by Apollo Hospitals Group for the program and stated that the walkathon, with nearly 1,000 participants, should be the world’s largest scoliosis awareness walkathon. Mr Jithu Jose, Vice President, International Division of Apollo Hospitals, proposed the vote of thanks. The event served as a significant step forward in the collective effort to combat scoliosis and ensure a healthier future for the people of Sri Lanka.

‘Apollo Cancer Conclave’ throws light on new innovations that will immensely benefit the patients & aid physicians to effectively treat cancersHyderabad, February 8th, 2017 : The 3rd edition of APOLLO CANCER CONCLAVE & 7th edition of their biennial CANCER CI – 2017 conducted from 2nd to 5th February 2017, at HICC, Hyderabad, was a resounding success, with a record 2340 delegates attending it. Globally acclaimed faculty comprising of Basic research Scientists, site specific Cancer experts, presented their data, participated in patient specific case discussions, issue based discussions and highlighted several recent innovations.  The advent of these new innovations will immensely benefit the patients and aid treating physicians to effectively combat cancer.Robotic SurgeryNewer techniques of Robotic Surgery which can be used for newer areas and with more ease, were presented.TOMOTHERAPY & Proton therapyAdvanced Radiation techniques, Tomotherapy & Proton therapy will drastically bring down the treatment duration and will replace Surgery in several areas of Cancer treatment. Also the whole body Radiation, whole marrow Radiation, multiple site treatment can be done in one go, making treatment less traumatic.Liquid BiopsyThe hallmark of modern era cancer care is ‘Tailored therapy’ as it has been identified that ‘every patient is different.’ This tailored therapy relies on the determination of molecular targets on the tumour.Liquid biopsies are non-invasive blood tests that detect circulating tumour cells and cell free tumor DNA, that are shed from the tumour and thus compliment an invasive biopsy.Liquid biopsy can be used to identify these targets and modify treatments, apart from their primary role in diagnosis. It also helps in identifying sensitivity of tumour to various chemotherapeutic agents. Liquid biopsy can also be used to predict the toxicity of a particular therapeutic agent by pharmacogenetic analysis.Pharmacogenomic ProfilingMost cancer drugs are effective in only a fraction of patients who take them. Identification of this responsive subset of patients would spare useless cytotoxic treatment. This sensitivity is identified by pharmacogenomics profiling. This can be done on tumor tissue or on Liquid biopsy.Genetic Tests in disease & screeningGene mutations that lead to cancer may be inherited from a parent or may happen spontaneously during a person’s lifetime. Genetic testing is the process of using medical tests to look for these changes in a person’s genes lost chromosomes. Genetic testing is used to see if a person has certain gene mutates known to increase the rest for a certain cancer eg. BRCA mutation testing in Breast Cancer.Immunotherapy, also called biologic therapy is a type of Cancer treatment designed to boost the body’s natural defenses to fight cancer. It uses substances either made by the body or in a laboratory to improve or restore immune system function.Checkpoint Inhibitors (CPI) block normal proteins on cancer cells, or the proteins on the T-Cells that respond to them. CPI seek to overcome one of Cancer main defenses against an immune system attack.Cancers which can be treated with Immunotherapy areMelanoma – Nivolumab and Pembrolizumab.Hodgkin’s Lymphoma – NivolumabHead & Neck Cancers – NivolumabLung Cancers – Nivolumab & PembrolizumabLung – New way of treating Cancer…Immune checkpoints affect immune system functioning. Immune checkpoints can be stimulatory or inhibitory. Tumors can use these checkpoints to protect themselves from immune system attacks. Checkpoint therapy can block inhibitory checkpoints, restoring immune system function.For example –One such ligand-receptor interaction under investigation is the interaction between the transmembrane programmed cell depth 1 protein (PDCD1, PD-1; also known as CD279) and its ligand, PD-1 ligand 1 (PD-L1, CD274).Many cancer cells express PD1-L1 protein on their surface so that the immune system recognizes this marker as our own cell that should not be killed. Our immune T cell have another protein that is called PD1 or check point protein that involved in the recognition of PD1-L1. When PD1 marker on the immune T cell interacts with PD1-L1 marker on cancer cell the T cell dies or gets inactivated. This way cancer kills our T cells of our immune system and gets stronger whereas our immune system gets weaker. The immunotherapy drugs block the PD1 check point on T cells so that they cannot interact with PD1-L1 on cancer cells and cannot get killed or inactivated. With the blocked check point (PD1) the T cells kill cancer cells without a problem. In summary PD1 is sitting on our T cells and PD1-L1 is sitting on cancer cells. And there is a battle between them. Either cancer cells kills T cell or T cell kills cancer cell.Nivolumab, Pembrolizumab are the new approved drugs for usage in Lung cancer.The immunotherapy drugs are known to be better than Chemotherapy in terms of response and survival.Neuro OncologyHippocampal sparing while treating brain tumors will improve the QOL – Neurocognitive function and memory.Immunotherapy in Brain MetastasesTreatment of brain metastases remains a challenge as most therapeutic agents do not cross the blood brain / barriers. Immunotherapy involves the activation of the immune system in T cells that cross the barrier. Recent studies have shown the efficiency of Pembrolizumab in treatment of Brain metastases in patients with melanoma and Lung Cancers.Head & Neck CancersHPV virus induced Cancers are increasing in our country too. These tumors are mostly in the Oropharynx and throat and are highly curable with less intensive treatment. Immunotherapy in H&N cancers.    

KOLKATA, July 22, 2021: Beginning July 2021, a 2-month-old with almost zero eyesight was brought to Apollo Multispeciality Hospitals, Kolkata. On examination, Dr Debabrata Halder, senior consultant ophthalmologist (paediatric), found out that the child was suffering from congenital total cataract in both eyes. “In such cases, however, surgeries are carried out when children are three or four years old. And to operate on a two-month-old’s eyes is a big challenge because of the age as well as the delicate nature of the eyes”, said Dr Halder.As a consequence of having total cataract in both eyes from birth, there was a hindrance to vision development in the child. Hence Dr Debabrata Halder, who was assisted by a team of doctors, decided to operate on the child’s eyes at the age of only two months. But due to the host of other health complications like the absence of anus, fistula connecting rectum and urinary passage, and some heart defects, administering anaesthesia was a big challenge. Dr Debabrata Halder said, “The hour-long surgery has cleared both the eyes of cataract and the baby’s vision is absolutely perfect. A delayed surgery could have permanently affected the vision, which is why we had to take the chance of operating at such a young age, which is not done normally.”He also added, “For us, it was a race against time. If we would have delayed the operation, it would have affected the development of visual fixation (the capability to stare in a particular direction), which normally develops between the eighth and tenth week and we would have crossed this crucial period. But following the procedure that was carried out, the child will now have a better vision and can lead life normally.” Following the successful surgery, the child has been released.On this note, Mr Rana Dasgupta, CEO, Eastern Region, Apollo Hospitals Group, said, “Apollo Multispeciality Hospitals, Kolkata, continues to be the leader in path-breaking procedures. Our committed clinicians, with the help of state-of-the-art technology, carried out this rare procedure on the two-month-old baby, who will now be able to see the world with her eyes.” About Apollo Hospitals Enterprise Ltd. (AHEL)It was in 1983, that Dr. Prathap C. Reddy made a pioneering endeavour by launching India’s first corporate hospital – Apollo Hospitals in Chennai.Now, as Asia’s foremost trusted integrated healthcare group, its presence includes over 12,000 beds across 71 Hospitals, 3,300 Pharmacies, over 90 Primary Care Clinics  and 150 diagnostic centers, 110  plus Telemedicine Centres, over 15 medical education centres and a Research Foundation with a focus on global Clinical Trials, epidemiological studies, stem cell & genetic research, Apollo Hospitals has been at the forefront of new medical advancements with the most recent investment being the commissioning of South East Asia’s very first Proton Therapy Centre in Chennai.Every four days, the Apollo Hospitals Group touches a million lives, in its mission to bring healthcare of international standards within the reach of every individual. In a rare honour, the Government of India had issued a commemorative stamp in recognition of Apollo’s contribution, the first for a healthcare organization. Apollo Hospitals Chairman, Dr. Prathap C. Reddy, was conferred with the prestigious Padma Vibhushan in 2010.For 35 years, the Apollo Hospitals Group has continuously excelled and maintained leadership in medical innovation, world-class clinical services and cutting-edge technology. Its hospitals are consistently ranked amongst the best hospitals in the country for advanced medical services. For more information:Amitava Chakraborty | amitava_c@apollohospitals.com | 9804000201Sumantika Choudhury | sumantika.choudhury@adfactorspr.com| 9830056185

As an exclusive center for the elderly, Apollo Elder Care follows a unique holistic approach to Geriatric CareFirst phase of the launch saw inauguration of Apollo Elder Care centers in six major Indian cities20 January 2017, Hyderabad: Apollo Hospitals, one of Asia’s largest integrated healthcare provider, today launched ‘Apollo Elder Care’, a dedicated centre for well-being and health of elderly people. The unique Geriatric Care initiative will be a comprehensive center for understanding the medical background of an elderly and offer customized care. In the first phase of the launch, the service will be available across Apollo Hospitals in Chennai, Hyderabad, Bangalore, Kolkata, Delhi and Bhubaneshwar.Apollo Elder Care will be a one stop service to address physical, psychological, medicinal and financial concerns of a patient and his caregivers. Apollo Elder Care is a specialised geriatric care initiative where proficient geriatricians and allied medical professionals provide comprehensive geriatric assessment to address all-round needs of a patient and recommend the best suited treatment approach. “Health issues facing the elderly can be very complex and puzzling. The elderly often suffer from more than one medical problem and have conditions that can be obscured by unusual symptoms. At Apollo we felt that elderly care needs a special environment and attention that can help them improve their functional ability, physical health, cognition and mental health”, saidDr Hariprasad, President, Apollo Hospitals Group.The dedicated Geriatric Care centres have been divided into four zones-Out Patient Care, In Patient Care, Emergency Care and Home Health Care and will offer comprehensive physical, cognitive and psychosocial assessment, a personal care plan, recommendations to improve health and functional ability, rehabilitation, safe use of medicines and will address home and emergency care for the elderly. “Though population ageing is a global phenomenon, India faces a specific demographic challenge with about 8 percent of the population over the age of 65 in 2014, and with this number is expected to grow up to 20 percent by 2050. This necessitates healthy ageing as a chief prerequisite for the Indian population, and a holistic approach to their health needs is one of the current foci of the Indian health sector”, added Dr Hariprasad. As a latest edge of Apollo Hospitals’ constant thrive to innovate healthcare delivery, and dedicated to the overall health and welfare of the elderly, Apollo Elder Care follows a holistic methodology that employs the best ways to maintain or improve functional ability, physical health, cognition and mental health of our senior populace.The core treatment facilities available at the centre includes care towards preventing and managing fractures, dizziness (vision care), memory loss, depression, psychological revitalization, vaccinations, fatigue, unsteadiness or weakness, physiotherapy, diet counselling and medicine management.About Apollo Elder CareApollo Elder Care is a specialized geriatric care initiative aimed at providing Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment with the help of proficient geriatricians and allied medical professionals. As an exclusive and holistic care program to geriatric patients from Apollo Hospitals, Apollo Elder Care provides the following comprehensive solutions:Comprehensive physical, cognitive & psycho-social assessmentDevelopment of a personal care planSuper-specialists recommended surgical programsAid in post-operative or post illness recovery (rehabilitation)Recommendations to improve health & functional abilityA highly trained multi-disciplinary team at Apollo Elder Care treats and also monitors its implementation – ensuring that the health and social care services are aligned to achieve the best outcomes. The team also coordinates with all the relevant medical caregivers, making the treatment convenient and safe.About Apollo HospitalsIt was in 1983, that Dr. Prathap Reddy made a pioneering endeavour by launching India’s first corporate hospital – Apollo Hospitals in Chennai. Over the years Apollo Hospitals has established itself as home to the largest cardiac practice in India with over 160,000 cardiac surgeries. Apollo Hospitals is also the world’s largest private cancer care provider and runs the world’s leading solid organ transplant program having conducted over 1,500 solid organ transplants in 2014-15 alone.Now, as Asia’s largest and most trusted healthcare group, its presence includes 9,554 beds across 69 Hospitals, 2,326 Pharmacies, over 172 Primary Care and Diagnostic Clinics, 148 plus Telemedicine Centres and 80 plus Apollo Munich Insurance branches panning the length and breadth of the country. As an integrated healthcare service provider with health insurance services, projects consultancy services, medical education centres and a Research Foundation with a focus on global clinical trials, epidemiological studies, stem cell & genetic research, Apollo Hospitals has been at the forefront of new medical breakthroughs with the most recent investment being that of commissioning the first Proton Therapy Centre across Asia, Africa and Australia in Chennai, India. Every four days, the Apollo Hospitals Group touches a million lives, in its mission to bring healthcare of International standards within the reach of every individual.In a rare honour, the Government of India issued a commemorative stamp in recognition of Apollo’s contribution, the first for a healthcare organization. Apollo Hospitals Chairman, Dr. Prathap C Reddy, was conferred with the prestigious Padma Vibhushan in 2010. For more than 28 years, the Apollo Hospitals Group has continuously excelled and maintained leadership in medical innovation, world-class clinical services and cutting-edge technology. Our hospitals are consistently ranked amongst the best hospitals globally for advanced medical services and research.   

Removal of bullet from liver – minimally invasive surgery/ laproscopic removal – first of its kind surgeryMr.Mahmud 50 yr male from Somalia had a bullet injury about 9 months back. Since then he was having continuous pain in the abdomen which prevented him from doing his work. He visited lot of hospitals both in his country and in India. He was advised surgical removal of the bullet. In all the hospitals he was advised conventional open surgery – wherein the abdomen is cut open and bullet along with some part of the liver are removed. He was also told that it is a high risk surgery.  He then visited Apollo hospital and after evaluating him thoroughly Doctor’s team planned a laparoscopic surgery – wherein two small holes of 0.5 cm are placed in the abdomen and with the help of specialized instruments the exact location of the bullet was identified and the bullet was removed preserving the liver and the surrounding important structures. This surgery was done with very minimal blood loss and the patient was discharged within 24hrs. post operatively patient was totally painfree and was back to his routine work.Laparoscopic removal of such a bullet injury is probably a first in the country and we at Apollo are proud to have done.With the increased expertise of laproscopic surgeons we are able to perform many such complicated and challenging surgeries safely and effectively in many such patients. The conventional or open surgery would have left a large scar about 15 – 20 cms in length and post operative recovery would have taken about a week to ten days, but with laproscopic surgery the patient does not have any scar and was discharged in less than a day.    

Global Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (GAPIO) brings together leading medical experts from India and across the globeHyderabad, January 6th 2017The 7th Annual conference of the Global Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (GAPIO) will be held on 7th and 8th January at Park Hyatt, Hyderabad. The theme of this two day conference is “Diabetes – The Giant killer” and “Innovations in Medicine!” Over 74 renowned national and international experts from India, USA, UK, Australia, Canada, Singapore and UAE have confirmed participation in this conference.It is estimated that there are 1.2 million physicians of Indian origin working in India and other parts of the world. Dr. Prathap C Reddy, Founder President and Chairman of Apollo Hospitals said, “GAPIO now has representation from 33 countries. GAPIO’s vision is to “Improve Health Worldwide”. GAPIO stands to empower physicians of Indian origin to achieve highest professional standards, to provide affordable good quality healthcare, to contribute to local and regional community development and thereby help to reduce health inequalities and alleviate suffering globally”.“The Annual Conference of GAPIO will attract 400 to 500 medical experts. Key opinion leader from across the world will deliberate on Cardio Vascular Diseases, Metabolic Disorders, Brain Trauma – Kidney, Oncology, Rheumatology, Gastro Intestinal Disorders, Paediatrics, Robotic Surgery, Mental Health, Global Health Care, Emerging Healthcare Challenges,” said Dr Sanku Surender Rao, President GAPIO and a practicing gastroenterologist from USA.“Out of 1.2 million Indian doctors working globally, 300,000 are overseas with 50,000 in the UK. We are trying to leverage their expertise to India,” said Dr Ramesh Mehta, President – Elect, GAPIO and President of British Association of Physicians or Indian Origin (BAPIO). “This conference will aim to strengthen engagement of physicians of Indian origin from across the globe who are experts in their fields with vast experience and have the potential to change the healthcare scenario in India,” he added.According to Dr. Anupam Sibal, Vice President Elect, GAPIO “This substantial workforce of physicians of Indian origin is a valuable resource, which can help to mobilize significant developments in the healthcare field in India and globally. The strong diaspora of Indian doctors working in USA, UK, Canada, Australia, Middle East, South East Asia, Africa and the Caribbean, who are highly respected and powerful, need a common professional platform and GAPIO aims to provide this very platform”.Dr. Sudhir Parikh – Treasurer said, “GAPIO has assisted in creation of a web portal known as Swaasth India (www.swaasthindia.gov.in) in collaboration with MOH Government of India, BAPIO and AAPI. This was launched by Hon’ble Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare Government of India on 28th June 2014 at San Antonio, Texas, USA. Government of India has accorded the SwaasthIndia web portal as a Government of India official website. This portal is now acting as matchmaking site where Government of India and State Governments are posting their requirements and Indian Medical Diaspora is viewing and applying for the same”.“This is an annual event which brings together physicians of Indian origin from across the globe to interact and share learnings with each other. It provides a road map for the activities of GAPIO towards improving the health of the community,” said Dr. Nandakumar Jairam, Secretary General – Elect, GAPIO.GAPIO was formed in January 2011 to bring doctors of Indian origin together from all over the world under one umbrella organization.Over the years, several programs have been organized to help the community. A free Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Camp was held at Bilaspur where 105 surgeries were performed.First in the series of GAPIO charitable clinics, a multispecialty GAPIO Charitable clinic was inaugurated in Secunderabad.A team of doctors from GAPIO lead by Dr. V K Raju ophthalmologist from USA held an eye screening camp at Aragonda.GAPIO in collaboration with Global Health and Education (GHE), USA has organised, 6 Free Health Screening Camps at Sawaimadhopur, Rajasthan in October 2016. These camps were second in the series of camps held in these areas in the year 2015 with the aim to follow-up those detected to be high risk patients for blood pressure and diabetes.GAPIO conferences have in the past been held at New Delhi, Hyderabad, Cochin, Kolkata, Chandigarh and Bangalore in India; at California and New Jersey in the USA; at Birmingham and Leicester in the UK, at Sydney in Australia and Moscow, Russian Federation.Some of the renowned international faculty include – Dr. Om Ganda, Joslin Centre, USA; Dr. Brahma N Sharma, Dr. Surendra K Varma and Dr. V K Raju from USA. Dr. Parul Shah, Dr. Gautam Bodiwala, Dr. Neeraj Bhala, Dr. Amitava Banerjee and Dr. J S Bamrah from UK, Dr. Arun Garg from Canada.   

Hyderabad, 17th May 2021: Apollo Hospitals (Apollo), Asia’s foremost integrated healthcare services provider, and Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories (Dr. Reddy’s), a leading Indian multinational pharmaceutical company today announced the launch of a limited pilot program for the Sputnik V vaccine as part of the soft launch by Dr. Reddy’s in India. The first phase of the program will kick off with vaccinations in Hyderabad on Monday (May 17, 2021) and in Visakhapatnam on Tuesday (May 18, 2021) at separate facilities at the Apollo Hospitals in those cities. The vaccinations would follow the SOPs as recommended by the Government including registration on CoWIN. Dr. K. Hari Prasad, President – Hospitals Division, Apollo Hospitals Enterprises Limited said, “With the opening up of the vaccination program for the private sector, we have intensified our efforts to accelerate the rate of vaccination through opening vaccination centers across our hospital network and are also in discussions with corporates to undertake vaccination on their premises. We are currently administering the COVID vaccine at 60 locations across the country including Apollo Hospitals, Apollo Spectra Hospitals, and Apollo Clinics. This pilot phase will allow Dr. Reddy’s and Apollo to test the arrangements and cold chain logistics and prepare for the launch. We are confident that with the Sputnik V vaccine, we will be able to make a significant contribution to ease availability and access to COVID vaccines to the community at large.” “We already have two vaccines accessible here, by making more vaccines accessible, we can expedite the vaccination of our population and come out of this pandemic speedily. We are doing a soft launch of the Sputnik V vaccine today, Dr Reddy’s Labs is importing this vaccine, this vaccine dose will be given in two doses. We are doing a trial run from today to fix any logistics issues and to prove that they are safe, by vaccinating around 50000 staff and families of DRL, across the country. This vaccine has a distinctly different vaccine for first and second dose, unlike the other vaccines which use the same vaccine for both the doses. The second dose has to be administered after twenty-one days. The cost of vaccination will be between Rs 1200 and Rs 1250 including vaccination and vaccine administering.”M.V. Ramana, CEO – Branded Markets (India & Emerging Markets), Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories said: “We are pleased to collaborate with Apollo Hospitals as part of our soft pilot launch of the Sputnik V vaccine in India. We are working to scale up the pilot and take the vaccine to other cities, and in the upcoming months we hope to inoculate as many Indians as possible.” “The idea of the soft launch is to check if the systems are in place, across the length and breadth of the country. Initially we will import and will locally manufacture it in due course.”The Sputnik V vaccines for the pilot program would be supplied by Dr. Reddy’s from the first batch of 1,50,000 vaccine doses imported by them for the soft launch. After Hyderabad and Visakhapatnam, the pilot program will be extended to Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Ahmedabad, Chennai, Kolkata, and Pune.Dr Sauri, Head IPDO, R&D, DRL; said, over 2 crore people have been vaccinated in 63 countries by the Sputnik V vaccine. It’s been approved after doing Clinical trials on 33000 people in Russia and 1600 people in India and that enabled us to get emergency approval in India..About Apollo Hospitals:It was in 1983, that Dr. Prathap C Reddy made a pioneering endeavor by launching India’s first corporate hospital – Apollo Hospitals in Chennai. Now, as Asia’s foremost trusted integrated healthcare group, its presence includes over 12,000 beds across 72 Hospitals, 3800 pharmacies, over 120 Primary Care clinics, and 650 Diagnostic centers, 700 plus Teleclinics, over 15 medical education centers, and a Research Foundation with a focus on global Clinical Trials. The most recent investment being the commissioning of Southeast Asia’s very first Proton Therapy Centre in Chennai.Every four days, the Apollo Hospitals Group touches a million lives, in its mission to bring healthcare of international standards within the reach of every individual. In a rare honor, the Government of India had issued a commemorative stamp in recognition of Apollo’s contribution, the first for a healthcare organization. Apollo Hospitals Chairman, Dr. Prathap C Reddy, was conferred with the prestigious Padma Vibhushan in 2010. For 38 years, the Apollo Hospitals Group has continuously excelled and maintained leadership in medical innovation, world-class clinical services and cutting-edge technology. Its hospitals are consistently ranked amongst the best hospitals in the country for advanced medical services. For further details, log onto: www.apollohospitals.comAbout Dr. Reddy’sDr. Reddy’s Laboratories Ltd. (BSE: 500124, NSE: DR REDDY, NYSE: RDY) is an integrated pharmaceutical company, committed to providing affordable and innovative medicines for healthier lives. Through its three businesses – Pharmaceutical Services & Active Ingredients, Global Generics, and Proprietary Products – Dr. Reddy’s offers a portfolio of products and services including APIs, custom pharmaceutical services, generics, biosimilars, and differentiated formulations. Our major therapeutic areas of focus are gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, diabetology, oncology, pain management, and dermatology. Dr. Reddy’s operates in markets across the globe. Our major markets include – USA, India, Russia & CIS countries, and Europe. For more information, log on to: www.drreddys.com.      

Apollo Hospitals performs a rare liver transplant on a six & half months tiny baby weighing 5.5 kgs!One of the youngest and underweight infants to undergo liver transplant .Only few centers in the world carry out liver transplant on children lesser than 10 kgs in weightHyderabad, November 4th, 2016: The Liver Transplant team at Apollo Hospitals, Jubilee Hills, led by Dr Manish C. Varma, Chief Transplant Surgeon, Apollo Hospitals, Hyderabad, performed a critical liver transplant surgery on a six and half month old baby boy, Master Nitesh, suffering from Biliary atresia. The transplant was carried out by taking a slice of father’s liver on 13th October, 2016. The infant is doing well and has since been discharged.  Biliary atresia is a congenital liver condition where the bile cannot drain from the liver through the bile ducts to the intestines. Bile helps to digest fats in the body and also carries waste products from the liver to the intestines for excretion. It occurs in 1 in 10,000 to 1 in 15,000 children. This impairment of the bile flow usually happens due to the bile ducts in the liver being absent or blocked or abnormally narrow. This results in the bile being trapped in the liver eventually leading to liver failure. Initially these children present with jaundice at about 2 weeks after birth. If they are not treated they become malnourished and are easy prey for infections and complications of cirrhosis and a majority of them do not survive beyond 2 years.Ideally, biliary atresia kids should undergo Porto-enterostomy or Kasai’s procedure within 3-4 months of their birth, this procedure enables bypassing the blocked ducts to drain the bile from liver. Kasai’s procedure can delay the onset of cirrhosis for up to 5 years in 50% of children and enables the children to grow to an age and size wherein liver transplantation can be safely carried out subsequently as the definitive curative treatment.This patient Nitesh had developed jaundice a few weeks after his birth. His parents consulted local doctors in Bhimavaram, from where they hail. After prolonged treatment when jaundice did not subside, they brought him to another Hospital in Hyderabad. There they were advised liver transplant as the only cure for his medical condition. It was at this stage, their family and friends strongly advised them to seek the help of the transplant team at Apollo Hospitals. On presentation at Apollo Hospitals, Nitesh was found to be suffering from very high jaundice and had already developed liver cirrhosis, he was very small weighing just about 5.5 kgs.According to Dr Manish Varma, Nitesh by then had missed the window of opportunity for a Kasai’s procedure and we were left with no option but to transplant his liver. These are the patients who pose the biggest challenge for liver transplantation and not many centres in our country are equipped to carry out liver transplant on children smaller than 10 kgs in weight, he points out.The baby needed a small part of healthy liver for transplantation. The livers of his mother and grandmother were not suitably matched. The transplant was finally carried out on 13th October, 2016, using a small part of his father’s liver. The donor (father) was discharged on 6th day after surgery and the baby was discharged after 2 weeks of transplant. Nitesh will need immunosuppressants all his life, but his overall growth will be normal. There will not be any long term limitations to his growth, learning and life expectancy, says Dr Manish Varma.The liver transplantation was done by a team of Specialists led by Dr. Manish Varma and included Dr Anand Khakhar, Dr Anand Ramamurthy, Dr L Sasidhar Reddy, Dr Kirubakaran, Dr Manjunath Balasubramaniam, Dr Dinesh Babu and Dr. Ramesh Srinivasan, Pediatric Gastroenterologist. The post operative care of the baby was done by a team of specialists and critical care doctors including Dr Manjunath B., Anaesthetist & Intensivist; Dr Vishṇu Vardhan Reddy, Pediatric Intensivist; Dr Meena Trehan, Pediatric critical care specialist; Dr Sunita Narreddy & Dr. Ravi Barigala, Infectiuos Diseases specialists and Dr Ravi Shanker, Endocrinologist.Liver Transplantation in general and Paediatric Liver Transplantation in specific requires multi-disciplinary approach, advanced infrastructure and well qualified staff who are specialised in dealing with critical paediatric patients. Apart from a meticulous surgery, the biggest challenge is the intensive care in the post-operative period. The nutritionists and physiotherapists have a very crucial role to play for a successful outcome. The margin of error in paediatric liver transplant patients is extremely narrow and the medical management has to be coordinated like clockwork.The Liver Transplant programme at Apollo Hospitals, Hyderabad, has a success rate of over 95%, which is not only the best in India, but also one of the best in the world. The transplant program routine carries out multi-organ transplantation like Combined Liver-Kidney and Simultaneous Kidney-Pancreas Transplantation. World over, Paediatric Liver Transplantation is carried out in a chosen few centres and not all liver transplant centres offer these services. Children with a various disorders like biliary atresia, metabolic disorders, and liver tumours, among other causes may need liver transplantation. With superlative success rates, which speaks of a proficient team and excellent infrastructure, the Liver Transplant Program at Apollo Hospitals, Jubilee Hills, is all equipped to undertake complex endeavours.About Apollo HospitalsIt was in 1983, that Dr. Prathap Reddy made a pioneering endeavor by launching India’s first corporate hospital – Apollo Hospital in Chennai. Now, as Asia largest and most trusted healthcare group, its presence includes more than 10000 beds across 65 Hospitals, 2000 Pharmacies, 92 Primary Care and Diagnostic Clinics, 100 Telemedicine units across 10 countries. Health Insurance services, Global Projects Consultancy, 15 colleges of Nursing and Hospital Management and a Research Foundation with a focus on global Clinical Trials, epidemiological studies, stem cell & genetic research and the first Proton Therapy Center across Asia, Africa and Australia.In a rare honor, the Government of India issued a commemorative stamp in recognition of Apollo’s contribution, the first for a healthcare organization. Apollo Hospitals Chairman, Dr. Prathap C Reddy, was conferred with the prestigious Padma Vibhushan in 2010. For more than 30 years, the Apollo Hospitals Group has continuously excelled and maintained leadership in medical innovation, world-class clinical services and cutting-edge technology. Our hospitals are consistently ranked amongst the best hospitals globally for advanced medical services and research.     

Apollo Hospitals Group is launching the Billion Hearts Beating (BHB), the cardiac awareness campaign with Times of India from 28th of April, 2010. This campaign has been developed in partnership with Times of India, to create awareness and a mass movement in the country towards people taking control of their heart and health. This campaign comes from Apollo, as a responsible global healthcare group and intends to educate the people about heart problems and the main 7 risk factors which people need to know, as Chairman always emphasizes. More importantly it also urges for an action, i.e. to take charge and maintain a healthy lifestyle and highlights the need for a heart check.Apart from the activities at the National level (Print ads in ToI, Website, Radio Spots on Radio Mirchi, Tickers on Times Now, Street Theatre and TV Films), all Hospitals will promote the campaign at their respective locations by putting up Graffiti Walls, distributing fliers, putting up Banners, Posters, etc.Hoardings form an important part of the whole campaign; we will rent hoardings at various sites across the city for the next two months during the BHB campaign.This is the most important campaign being launched by Apollo Hospitals, in importance, impact and costs and deserves active and serious participation throughout to make it resoundingly successful.Visit: www.billionheartsbeating.com/

Hyderabad, 15th February 2021: The Heart transplant performed on a critical cardiac patient at Apollo Hospitals, Jubilee Hills, with the cadaver heart transported through Metro rail, was successful with the heart recipient recovering fully. For the first time in the history of organ transplantation, anywhere in the world, metro rail was used to transport the organ. A green corridor was specially created by Hyderabad Metro Rail and Hyderabad Police, for the cadaver heart to reach Apollo Hospitals at Jubilee Hills, expeditiously. This was announced by Dr. Sangita Reddy, Joint Managing Director, Apollo Hospitals Group; Dr. Alla Gopala Krishna Gokhale, Sr. Consultant, Heart and Lung Transplant Surgeon, Apollo Hospitals; Dr. Anil Kumar, IPS, Joint Commissioner of Police, Traffic, Hyderabad City; Mr. NVS Reddy, Managing Director, HMRL & Mr. KVB Reddy, Managing Director, L&T Metro Rail; at a press conference at Apollo Hospitals, today. The heart recipient Mr. Singareddy Kanakareddy was also present at the press conference. The 44-year-old recipient was suffering from dilated cardiomyopathy, he desperately needed a heart transplant to survive and was kept alive for over 45 days with continuous infusion of medicine, till he got transplanted with a new heart.The speedy transportation of the heart by metro rail during peak traffic hour played a critical role, it enabled to bring the cadaver heart intact and aided in the overall success of the surgery, says Dr. Alla Gopala Krishna Gokhale.Earlier on February 2nd, 2021; the team of specialists led by Dr. Alla Gopala Krishna Gokhale harvested the heart of a brain dead 45-year-old male farmer at Kamineni Hospital, LB Nagar. The organ was immediately transported through a road and rail green corridor created specifically for it. The transit which took just about 40 minutes involved the transportation of the organ by road from Kamineni Hospital, LB Nagar to Nagole Metro Station, by a special Metro train from Nagole to Jubilee Hills Metro station and later taken by road to Apollo Hospitals, Jubilee Hills. Transporting the organ by road alone would have taken over two hours, especially during the peak traffic hour and could have led to complications in transplanting the organ. The surgery performed to transplant the heart took over eight hours and the patient gradually recovered over the last fortnight. He is hail and healthy and can lead a normal life with certain precautions.