About the UnionThe mission of International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (The Union) is to bring innovation, expertise, solutions and support to address health challenges in low and middle-income populations. Headquartered in Paris, The Union is the only international voluntary scientific organisation with partners providing a neutral platform to fight TB, HIV, asthma, tobacco and lung disease.  Established in 1920, The Union today is both a non-profit institute with five scientific departments and several offices worldwide; and a federation of close to 3,000 organisations and individuals. Its scientific departments focus on tackling major health challenges including: Tuberculosis, HIV, Lung health (including Child Lung Health), Non-communicable diseases, and Tobacco Control. Technical assistance, research, education and advocacy form the core of The Union’s activities and support to more than 170 countries and programmes across the world.The Union is most widely known for developing the DOTS (Directly Observed Treatment, Short Course) strategy for treating and controlling tuberculosis. Internationally recommended and adopted by the World Health Organization, The Union model has been used to treat 37 million people around the world. For more information, please see www.theunion.org.About The Union South-East AsiaBased in New Delhi, The Union South-East Asia Office (USEA) works in India and other countries across the region, drawing on a network of consultants and strong partnerships with governments, civil society, corporations and international agencies. Established in 2003 as The Union’s first regional office, today it brings global experience and expertise to its work as well as efficiency and energy to The Union’s services across the region. USEA has a dedicated staff with technical expertise which reflects the Union’s emphasis on tuberculosis, HIV, lung health, tobacco control, non-communicable diseases and research.Since 2009, USEA has managed Project Axshya, a Global Fund supported project designed to enhance access to TB services by vulnerable and marginalised populations in 300 districts across 21 states of India. Other key projects include tobacco control efforts in India, Nepal and Bangladesh through the Bloomberg Initiative to reduce tobacco use; and the Eli-Lilly supported project to expand sustainable TB control in India. USEA also coordinates trainings to build capacity in the management of TB and MDR-TB, operational research, programme management and other skills.About The Union – Apollo Partnership ProjectEngaging all relevant health-care providers in tuberculosis care and control through public-private and public-public mix approaches is an essential component of the World Health Organization’s (WHO’s) Stop TB Strategy. The Union in collaboration with the Lilly MDR-TB partnership is implementing a project to systematically involve private health care providers in delivering effective and quality TB services in India.Nearly 50% of TB patients in India are treated in the private sector with most of them neither being notified nor followed up for treatment adherence with a high risk of unfavourable outcomes and amplification of resistance.To address these challenges The Union in partnership with Apollo Hospital Hyderabad has developed a web-based software application to facilitate notification to the National TB Programme and provide treatment adherence support to TB patients treated in the private sector. The software links the private health facility with GoI’s TB notification portal Nikshay and simultaneously supports TB patients for treatment adherence through messages, interactive voice calls and counselling services.TB patients diagnosed and initiated on treatment at the hospital are registered into the software which automatically notifies to Nikshay. This software also provides treatment adherence support to patients through daily reminder SMS (short message service) and twice a week IVRC (interactive voice response calls) which records patients’ response on treatment regularity. The sms and IVRC are available in patient’s preferred language. In addition to the daily reminder for taking medication there are reminders for follow up visits. Patients who miss doses or do not respond to IVRC or do not come for follow up visits are followed up by a trained counsellor.Results of the pilot studyDuring June 2015 – March 2016, 200 TB patients have been registered in the pilot project. These include 146 extra-pulmonary (73%) and 54 pulmonary (27%), 10 patients have multi-drug resistant TB (MDR-TB). 116 (58%) are male.Of the 200 patients registered 32 have successfully completed treatment while the remaining are still on treatment.NotificationAll 200 patients have been successfully notified to Nikshay.Impact of patient support package- Reminders through SMS/IVRSOf the 200 patients, 165 (82%) agreed for receiving SMS and IVRC. Analysis of ~3600 IVR calls shows that 95% have taken all doses and 5% missed one or more dose. All Patients who missed doses were counseled telephonically.Feedback from patients on IVRS/SMSFeedback was taken from the 165 patients on SMS/IVRS. 95% remembered having received daily sms in the last 7 days. 90% remembered that they have received and responded to at least 1 IVR calls in the last 7 days.Nearly 90% of the patients found the sms to be very helpful in reminding about drug intake and desired to continue continue receiving them. Over 90% patients did not find any problem in responding to the IVR calls and found them to be useful. 80% wanted to continue with twice a week IVR calls while 20% wanted a reduced frequency (1 call per week).CostThe total cost of daily sms and twice a week IVR calls for a period of 6 months (normal duration of TB treatment) is only Rs 120/- (less than US $2).Conclusion:Results from the pilot indicate that web based software with the patient support package developed is successfully notifying TB patients into Nikshay in real time.95% of the patients who are receiving treatment adherence support (sms and IVR calls) are adhering to treatment. Most of the patients (90%) find the sms and IVR reminders useful and would like to continue receiving them.The pilot shows that this is an efficient and cost effective model to facilitate notification and treatment adherence of TB patients in the private sector. The software is open source and can be easily customized to integrate with the hospitals Management Information System (MIS). There are encouraging results from Apollo Hospital, thus this notification adherence system is being scaled in other hospitals.  

Baby Salama 4.5 years had grown up this far without chocolates or milk. She had OTC deficiency, a rare metabolic disorder, wherein the liver lacks enzymes required for processing proteins. As a result, she would become unconscious everytime she would eat proteins in her diet. Doctors advised her to undergo liver transplantation as that was the only way she could have normal life. Her parents consulted at various centres in and outside Hyderabad and decided to get her treatment done at Apollo Hospitals, Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad. As there were no suitable donors in the family, she was put on the waitlist for a cadaver organ. The most likely possibility was a split liver transplant, where an adult liver from a brain dead person is divided into two parts and the smaller one is given to a child. However, on 22nd July the organs of a brain dead child were made available through Jeevandan Scheme of Telangana, and the liver was offered to Baby Salama.  The doctors at Apollo Hospitals, Jubilee Hills decided that the liver was an appropriate match and the Liver Transplant was carried out on 23rd July 2015. The operation was carried out by a team of Specialists led by Dr. Manish C. Varma, Chief Transplant Surgeon at Apollo Hospitals, Hyderabad. The baby recovered uneventfully after the operation and was moved out of the ICU after 3 days and was discharged on 12th post-operative day.Paediatric Liver Transplantation requires advanced infrastructure and well qualified staff who are specialised for dealing with critical paediatric patients. Apart from a meticulous surgery, the biggest challenge is the intensive care in the post-operative period. The margin of error in paediatric liver transplant patients is extremely narrow and the management has to be coordinated like clockwork. The post operative care of the baby was done by a team of specialists and critical care doctors including Dr. Manjunath (Intensivist), Dr. Sahoo (Intensivist), Dr. Meena Trehan (Pediatric critical care specialist), Dr. Shweta Priyadarshini (Pediatric Nephrlologist), Dr. Sunita Narreddy (Infectiuos Diseases specialist), and Dr. Ravi Shanker (Endocrinologist). Speaking about the operation, Dr. Anurag Shrimal (Liver Transplant Surgeon) said , “ it is difficult to find appropriate size organs for small babies and hence, closing the abdomen after the fitting the new liver in is always a challenge. We have used a new technique of using composite graft wherein closure becomes very easy”.Dr. Varma noted that Liver Transplantation is a complex multidisciplinary exercise which requires proficient medical and nursing staff and excellent support from other departments like Nutrition and Physiotherapy. The Liver Transplant programme at Apollo Hospitals, Hyderabad has a success rate of over 97%, which is not only the best in India, but also one of the best in the world. The transplant program routine carries out mute-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. 

Hyderabad, 29th September, 2015: On the occasion of World Heart Day – 29th September, Sr. Cardiologists at Apollo Hospitals including Dr P.C. Rath, Dr. Shiv Kumar, Dr. Manoj Agarwal, Dr Surya Prakash Rao, Dr. P.K. Dhar led by Dr Hari Prasad, CEO – Central, Apollo Hospitals, commemorated the day by releasing balloons representing “Freedom From Heart Disease” at the iconic Buddha Statue at Hussain Sagar. The symbolic release of balloons was done to create awareness about heart diseases and preventive measures.  Apollo Hospitals also launched few novel initiatives to reach out to the people and raise awareness on heart ailments:Any person suspecting of chest pain walking into any Apollo Hospitals will be offered free ECG and review by a consultant, for the next sixty days. Apollo Hospitals with its network of four centers in the city offers state-of-the-art cardiac care. The hospital has four Cath labs and expertise of 56 eminent cardiologist to fall back on.Apollo Heart Check if undergone by an Individual, will be extended an additional free Apollo Heart Check to one of his immediate family member.Speaking on the occasion Dr Hari Prasad said the rapid lifestyle changes, eating habits, lack of physical activity, pollution and stress have impacted our health and heart disease is gaining serious proportions. Incidence of heart disease has acquired epidemic dimensions, with alarming number of Indians succumbing to the disease. Youth falling victims to this disease at a ripe age is a matter of grave concern, he said.Dr. P.C. Rath, Senior Cardiologist, Apollo Hospitals, Jubilee Hills, said 80% of premature deaths from heart disease could be avoided if risk factors like unhealthy diet, physical inactivity and tobacco usage could be controlled. He said, its sad that in two decades time the cardiac patient profile has changed for worse, earlier the aged with heart disease were brought to doctors by their younger relatives, today it’s the younger lot with heart ailments are being brought to the hospital by their elderly, that too in big numbers. It’s time we banish this disease from our midst by adopting to healthy living, he said.

Apollo Hospitals forays into Homecare Dr. Prathap C Reddy launches Apollo Homecare operations in Hyderabad, Chennai and DelhiApollo Homecare to ramp up its services to 13 more cities in the next fifteen monthsHyderabad, October, 2015: Apollo Hospitals group is venturing into homecare leveraging its domain strength to make high quality integrated healthcare accessible to the community at large and more specifically to the elderly, chronically ill patients, post-surgery recovery patients etc., who would receive personalized attention from well- trained and qualified healthcare care providers right within the comfortable environs of their homes. With experience of over 500+ home based care patients of diverse clinical conditions, Apollo Hospitals is geared to render homecare services in India. The Group announced the National launch of Apollo Homecare services in Hyderabad, Delhi and Chennai on Saturday at Hyderabad. By the end of next year, Apollo Homecare will rapidly spread its operations to 13 more cities. Apollo Homecare services can be reached by dialing itsnational homecare hub number 1860-500-8585.  Marking this milestone, Dr. Dr. Prathap C Reddy, unveiled the logo and launched the website, at its debut press conference at Hyderabad today. Launching the “Apollo Homecare” initiative- Dr.Prathap .C.Reddy Chairman Apollo Group expressed that Home based quality Healthcare will play a very significant role in the healthcare Industry in India in this decade. Dr.Reddy mentioned that continuity of care is fundamental for better outcomes in healthcare-Apollo Homecare will sustain this continuum beyond the hospitals into the community through Apollo Homecare. This actually could be transformational as it is a win-win situation for all stakeholders – it is convenient and comfortable Patients and their families; it would reduce the “Average length of stay “(ALOS) of the patients for Hospitals and reduce the outgo for the Health Insurance companies. He is hopeful of Health Insurance companies favourably considering reimbursement for Home based healthcare services. Raising concern about the growing geriatric population in India, Dr.Reddy emphasized that the Elderly parents both the domestic and NRI dependents are the ones who need to be taken care of with utmost sensitivity and regular monitoring to avoid falls at home and also for better management of pre-existing conditions . Dr.Reddy also mentioned that remote monitoring through technology will play an significant role in home based healthcare services.Apollo Homecare’s Home Partnership programs are well researched and evidence based care plans to cater to the needs of broad categories of ELDERLY CARE, CHRONIC ILLNESS CARE, POST SURGERY CARE, POST HOSPITAL DISCHARGE CARE and HOME SPECIALTY CARE.Apollo Homecare will providing end to end, reliable and professional home healthcare through its Home Visit, Home partnership and Home Nursing programs. Apollo has currently 500+ Homecare professionals operating out of the three cities, with various skill levels and has showcased evidence based outcomes in critical services such as HOME BASED ICUsalso.Highlighting the partnership programs which are delivered through a multidisciplinary team guided by a specialist physician, Dr.Mahesh Joshi, CEO –Apollo Homecare mentioned that these care plan-based programs are aimed at chronic illness management in partnership with the family members to prevent adverse outcomes, unwanted hospital visits or admissions. Further elaborating on the need for quality homecare systems in India, Dr. Joshi said that there is a dearth of serious providers, who can cater to the“clinical excellence” at home in India. Dr.Joshi explained that Apollo Homecare will be supported by four centers of excellence namely Homecare Management , Homecare Hub ,Homecare Clinical Excellence and Homecare Learning Center.Talking about remarkable recovery of a 23 year old road accident victim Mr. Shivcharan reddy, Dr. Joshi said “ when we took this patient, he was totally paralysed, today he can write his mother’s name and we recently removed the tracheostomy tube.” Shiv Charan’s parents, are extremely happy at their son being taken care of at home.Ms.Sangita Reddy, Joint MD of Apollo Hospitals stated that Apollo always strives to address the unmet needs in the healthcare domain in India and homecare was but the natural progression in the Apollo’s journey. Explaining the manifold significance of homecare, she said, “Apollo Homecare is an option for people who need to seek viable alternatives to hospital-based care particularly for long term care or disease management with an assurance of the Quality care being delivered.Talking about Apollo advantage she said, “While there are lot of players in the market and lot more players who are about to launch, the major differentiation that Apollo Homecare has to offer would be “CLINICAL EXCELLENCE IN CARE. Starting from shadowing the patient post surgery at the hospital, smooth transfer of the patient to home and making the environment conducive at home, Apollo Homecare has the capability to handle the most critical cases at home.” Illustrating this point, she spoke about Mr. Babu Rao, who had less than 5% chances of survival. However, Apollo Homecare has successfully turned around the COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disorder) case and today Mr. Babu Rao leads a normal and healthy life although he remains with an Oxygen concentrator at home.Highlighting the APOLLO EDGE, Ms. Reddy shared the roadmap of Apollo homecare with presence in all tier- 1 cities by the end of the year and another 13 tier -2 cities during next year. Apollo targets to touch over a 100000 lives in the first year of its operations.Mr. Harshad Reddy, Director, Apollo Homecare, unveiled the Apollo Homecare KIT bag and flagged off the Apollo Homecare Van. Mr. Harshad said , “ With its distributed model of call taking, Apollo Homecare has localized the approach to homecare and the local teams are enabled for the Clinical excellence and would be working very closely with the base hospitals.”While Apollo Homecare will largely focus on HOME PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM with Short term and Long term home based care, which will be physician and nurse led; Apollo will also be handling HOME BASED INVESTIGATIONS, HOME VACCINATION PROGRAMS and MEDICINES DELIVERY.Apollo Homecare will leverage the Apollo group network of hospitals, retail pharmacy, Clinics and Diagnostic Services along with the backup of its Emergency 1066 services to provide comprehensive, reliable and end to end services for its homecare patients.    

Cardiology Society of India to host “BIG BP SURVEY” free Blood Pressure Screening on 21st September, across Twin Cities!Hyderabad, September 10th, 2015: Cardiology Society of India (CSI) is conducting a Big free Blood Pressure Screening Programme – “BIG BP SURVEY” on 21st September, 2015 in prominent locations across Hyderabad and Secunderabad.According to Dr Shiv Kumar, President, CSI, TS & AP Chapter, this initiative is being undertaken by CSI to assess the extent of High Blood Pressure amongst the twin cities populace, to raise awareness and initiate remedial measures to address this health hazard. In this endeavour Apollo Hospitals, Hyderabad and many other corporate hospitals are also taking part.  Hypertension or High blood pressure is a silent killer as it has no warning signs or symptoms and most often the person with BP discovers during a check. High blood pressure is a serious threat if not controlled in time, as it is the precursor to a host of life threatening ailments including heart attack, heart failure, kidney failure, stroke paralysis, loss of memory etc. Both men and women are equally vulnerable to develop hypertension. Therefore it is important to check for blood pressure frequently to identify it in initial stages and seek corrective remedy.The Free Screening Camps on 21st September will be held at all prominent public places like KBR Park, Banjara Hills; Vengalrao Park, Banjara Hills; Indira Park, Lower Tank Bund; Chacha Nehru Park, Masab Tank; Public Gardens, Nampally; Krishnakanth Park, Yousufguda; Mini Tank Bund Park, Malkajgiri; Parade Grounds, Secunderabad; MG Bus Station, Afzalgung; Jubilee Bus Station, Secunderabad; Nampally Railway Station; Secunderabad Railway Station; Kachiguda Railway Station, Kachiguda; I-Max, Khairatabad; In-orbit Mall, Cyberabad; GVK One, Banjara Hills; Sujana Forum Mall, Kukatpally; Hyderabad Central, Punjagutta; Big Bazar, Ameerpet, Corporate hospitals, Apollo Hospitals and its clinics. Citizens can visit any of these centers and get themselves checked for BP. 

Apollo Hospitals-owned company signs MOU with AAPI to provide virtual consultations to people across IndiaHyderabad, July 22nd 2019: HealthNet Global Limited (HNG) – a company owned by Apollo Hospitals Group – has signed an MOU with the American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI) to deliver virtual second opinion consultations. HNG is owned by Apollo Hospital Group and provides Remote Healthcare to country. As part of the collaboration, AAPI members will deliver free virtual consultations to the underserved rural population of Indian states like Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan and other states where HNG has a presence. The collaboration would also enable patients to seek second opinions from distinguished doctors based in the United States of America for complicated clinical problems and procedures.Founded in 1982, AAPI represents a conglomeration of more than 80,000 practising physicians of Indian origin in the USA. AAPI also serves as a platform for more than 40,000 medical students, residents and fellows of Indian origin in the USA.Speaking about the association, Dr.Prathap Reddy, Chairman and Founder, Apollo Hospitals Group, and President of Global Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (GAPIO), said, “This collaboration will provide people across the country access to the best specialists of Indian origin residing in the United States. This collaboration is another example of our continuous endeavour to provide affordable and best healthcare services to people across India.”Dr Suresh Reddy, President, AAPI, added, “We are very happy with this collaboration with Apollo Hospitals. It is a great opportunity for all the Indian-origin physicians living in the US to serve the country of their birth.”HNG provides integrated solutions and services for connected health and continuum of care through remote healthcare services.“As part of our collaboration, HNG will connect AAPI members with the underserved rural population through Medeintegra – our flagship telemedicine platform. People across the country will also be able to access the profiles of all the AAPI physicians through our App to seek consultations and second opinions and make informed decisions about their healthcare needs. Our collaboration is another initiative to use the latest technology to meet the healthcare needs of the people of India,” said Dr Sangita Reddy, Joint Managing Director, Apollo Hospitals Group.Dr.Sanku Rao, Past President AAPI and Past President GAPIO commented, “This collaboration will connect AAPI doctors to reach out to patients thousands of miles away using the boon of technology overcoming the geographical barrier.”“According to the latest data available, the patient to doctor ratio is 1:1,600 and virtual consultations would be a boon to the Indian society at large. Telehealth has revolutionizedhealthcare delivery and in today’s time, it is nor more an option rather a necessity,” said Dr.Ravi Jahagirdar, Past President AAPI.“This collaboration is poised to pave the way for several other collaborations to meet the growing healthcare demands of the people if India,” added Dr Anupam Sibal, Group Medical Director, Apollo Hospitals Group.About Apollo Hospitals: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, 3300 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.

The hospital has touched 37 million lives so far from across 120 countries.Dubai, UAE, July 13th, 2014: Emirates, one of the world’s fastest growing airlines, has teamed up with Apollo Hospitals, Asia’s foremost healthcare provider, to connect international patients with quality healthcare services in India. As part of this tie-up, the patients and their attendants from 19 countries across Middle East and Africa can come to the hospital’s flagship locations in Chennai, Hyderabad, New Delhi, Kolkata, Ahmadabad and Bangalore to avail these specially formulated fares for round-trip flights on Emirates. Apollo Hospitals in its journey so far has touched and enriched 37 million lives from across 120 countries.The countries in Middle East would include Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and UAE. Furthermore, the patients from African countries including – Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe, Cote d’Ivoire can avail this facility.“Healthcare sector is evolving and has made a great progress in the last few decades. However, access to better healthcare facilities, good quality and cost related challenges still exist. Therefore, we have entered into a strategic partnership with Emirates involving patients and attendants coming from this region to Apollo Hospitals. Furthermore, all Apollo Hospitals customers can also enjoy special Emirates fares to selected destinations. We are delighted to team-up with Emirates Airline and reach-out to these patients who value quality healthcare,” said Dr.K.Hariprasad, CEO, Apollo Hospitals.The hospital’s customers from India can save up to six percent on return business class and up to four percent on return economy class bookings across the Emirates network from India. They can also save up to 10 percent on business class and up to five percent on economy class bookings from selected points of origin to India.Under this partnership, the travellers coming to Apollo Hospitals from the above mentioned locations can avail the special fares through the ticket booking section of the Emirates Airline microsite using the passcode, which is mentioned within the site. The customers will have to log-in to the www.emirates.com/in/Apollo for availing the customised fares.Apollo Hospitals has been ranked amongst the top organisations to work by Gallup Great Places to Work (GGWA). This would mean that Apollo is now amongst globally recognised organisations for mastering how to engage workforce to deliver sustainable growth.In early 2014, Apollo Health City, Hyderabad was bestowed the prestigious ‘International Medical Tourism Award’ for Excellence in customer service, by the reputed International Medical Travel Journal, UK, at a glittering ceremony at JW Marriott Hotel in Dubai . The dedication to customer service rendered by Apollo Health City was applauded on the international platform attended by number of dignitaries from healthcare, insurance, pharmaceutical industries from around the world.

Apollo Proton Cancer Centre has launched the second edition of the International Women’s Day campaign — Screen to Win, for women auto drivers in Chennai. This initiative is centered to encourage women to get screened, be aware of cancer and spot the disease at an early stage.The Apollo Mobile Cancer Screening Program was inaugurated by the chief guest, Her Excellency, Dr. Tamilisai Soundararajan, Governor of Telangana and Lt. Governor of Puducherry; and guest of honor, Dr. Preethaa Ganesh, Vice President, Vels Group of Institutions, in presence of Dr. Sapna Nangia, Senior Consultant-Radiation Oncology, Dr. Manjula Rao, Consultant-Oncoplastic Breast Surgeon, and Dr. Muktha Mahajan, Consultant – Breast & Interventional Radiology, Apollo Proton Cancer Centre, Chennai.As a part of the initiative, the screening program was hosted in association with ‘Enayum Kaikal’, the women auto drivers’ association in Chennai. It was conducted in Apollo Mobile Health Bus which includes a digital mammogram, X-Ray, ultrasound, pap smear test, ECG, Echo, basic comprehensive test, BMI, RBS & BP. The participants were screened and had consultation with our experts.Her Excellency, Dr. Tamilisai Soundararajan, Governor of Telangana and Lieutenant Governor of Puducherry, expressed her delight in being a part of the Apollo Proton Cancer Centre’s Screen to Win initiative. She stated, “As a woman, I understand the importance of raising awareness about health issues that disproportionately affect women. Cancer is one such issue. The number of deaths in our country is alarming and heartbreaking, even though breast cancer is preventable and curable if detected early. We need to educate and empower women to prevent and fight cancer, which claims far too many lives each year. I congratulate the Apollo Proton Cancer Centre’s efforts to address it through this campaign, particularly for auto rickshaw women drivers. I encourage the community to take benefit of the Apollo cancer screening camps for a healthy future.”Dr. Preethaa Ganesh, Vice President, Vels group of Institution went on to emphasize the significance of regular screenings and early detection in the fight against cancer. She said, “I’m honored to be a part of Apollo’s ‘Screen to Win’ initiative, a meaningful and novel campaign aimed at the welfare of autorickshaw women drivers. Screenings are critical for detecting cancer at an early stage, which can improve treatment outcomes significantly. This is especially true for women, who are often caregivers and neglect their own health needs. Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers, and from what I understand, early detection not only improves the outcome, but it also significantly reduces treatment costs. Hence, I would encourage all women to get screened, to be aware, and to educate other women as well.”Dr. Sapna Nangia, Senior Consultant, Radiation Oncology (Breast & Gynec), Apollo Proton Cancer Centre, said, “According to the recent statistics, the national average of cancer cases for 2022 is 100.4 per 100,000, with a large number of women (105.4 per 100,000) being diagnosed with breast cancer. Patients often present themselves with advanced cancers that are more difficult to treat due to a lack of awareness and knowledge about the disease. Each of the tests provided during the campaign is critical in detecting cancer at an early stage and can significantly improve treatment outcomes. I encourage every woman to learn more about breast cancer and come to the Apollo Proton Cancer Centre or the Apollo Mobile Health Bus for an early-stage screening.”Last year, the APCC organized the first edition of the screening program in association with the Lions Club, Rotary Club, and IPSOWA (IPS Officers Wives’ Association-TN). The Apollo Mobile Health Bus travelled across Tamil Nadu, screened 17,500 women, and created awareness about early detection and the importance of regular screenings.    

In a significant development for sportspersons, patients with diabetes and the middle aged, Apollo Hospitals has introduced hydro dilatation as a part of the advanced treatment plan for those with a frozen shoulder.Shoulder pain is the second most common bone and joint problem after back pain. Studies show that 70% of people experience shoulder pain at least once in their life time. The external rotation is restricted due to pain and stiffness in the shoulder joint, typical symptoms of the condition. The causes of shoulder pain are varied.To address the symptoms, physiotherapy is recommended as an integral part of the treatment plan. Physiotherapy and injections constitute the first-line of treatment. If the symptoms persist, doctors switch course to a radiological intervention called hydrodilatation.This short, day-care procedure is offered at the One Stop Shoulder Clinic at Apollo Hospitals, Chennai. So far, 25 patients have undergone the procedure and all have shown progress. Their Oxford Shoulder Scores have improved from 12 to 42.Dr Preetha Reddy, Executive Vice Chairperson, Apollo Hospitals Group, said, “We are pleased to offer this treatment that gives key respite to patients. Our aim is to enable patients to lead fulfilling lives free from mental and physical pain and this initiative is a step towards that. Our healthcare models will continue to combine technology and care and offer comprehensive approaches to treatment.”Dr B Sivaraman, Orthopaedic Shoulder and Elbow Surgeon, Apollo Hospitals, said, “This is a rapid, non-surgical and cost-effective intervention for patients experiencing this condition. During this process, we inject about 100 to 150 ml of normal saline into the capsule (which is tight and frozen) of the shoulder under ultrasound guidance. We perform this procedure under block. This helps dilate the capsule for a 360-degree effect and enable improved functionality and movement of the shoulder. We are happy to share that our patients have shown significant improvement in symptoms and our interventions have helped avoid surgery.”The Clinic provides quick and efficient solutions for a range of shoulder problems. Reduced hospital visits and improved patient satisfaction are among the benefits.     

Apollo Hospitals, Ahmedabad today briefed media personnel about the case of a Baby boy who was born prematurely (30 week gestation period when the normal gestation period is 38-42 weeks) and suffered three serious diseases after birth.This is one of the smallest such babies to survive in the literature. Who had undergone a major surgery at this tender weight and age despite having immature lungs and extreme difficulty in breathing, needing prolonged ventilator support.The surgery was performed successfully & the baby was soon stabilized on relevant post-operative care in neonatal ICU. The baby needed to be kept nil by mouth for 15 days.The baby who was born to a 28 year old mother weighed 1.3 kg at birth was detected as having a congenital defect called “DUODENAL ATRESIA” in one of the ultrasounds done on mother during pregnancy. It is a complete closure of a portion of the lumen of duodenum leading to intestinal obstruction. This was treated by surgical correction of the obstruction & by post –operative care which involved the intake of fluids, electrolytes & nutrition through intravenous route. Baby was required to be kept nil by mouth for several days (upto two weeks following surgery) and was on Oxygen and ventilator support. The surgery was performed on the 6th day of life.The prematurity of the birth resulted in the baby suffering from difficulty in breathing & maintaining oxygen levels in blood. “This condition which was a result of underdeveloped lungs due to the prematurity in birth is called RESPIRATORY DISTRESS SYNDROME / HYALINE MEMBRANE DISEASE OF THE NEWBORN. This is a syndrome in premature babies caused by insufficient surfactant production and structural immaturity of the lungs” said Dr. Jyotinder Kaur, Consultant Paediatrician Apollo Hospitals Ahmedabad, who spearheaded the team that treated the baby. This condition was adequately treated by putting the baby on ventilator support soon after birth & by administering surfactant. The baby was fed for the first time and this was on the 16th day after birth.During the course of treatment for the above the baby developed BRONCHOPULMONARY DYSPLASIA which again is a chronic lung disorder in babies born prematurely & with low birth weight. “This is a very difficult condition to treat in newborns and was treated successfully with appropriate medication and ventilation” said Dr Jyotinder Kaur. “We have seen cases where new born babies have suffered from both duodenal atresia as well as Broncho pulmonary dysplasia. In those cases it occurred separately but here it is a combination of these conditions on baby and the successful treatment of this is a testament to the endurance and patience both the team of doctors as well as the parents of the baby.Although Duodenal Atresia and Bronchopulmoary Dysplasia have been treated successfully if occurred separately in babies, it is the combination of these difficult conditions occurring together in a baby born so prematurely and with this small weight and treated successfully make this unique. Despite so many interventions and procedures, the baby did not develop any infection throughout the ICU stay. This baby weighed 2.2 kg at discharge, is neurologically normal, taking mother’s milk like any normal baby.Consultant Paediatric Surgeon Apollo Hospitals Ahmedabad Dr P K Dave said “Surgeries on such premature babies are very complex and require high skill, the baby’s ability to tolerate such surgeries is less. Post operative care and state of the art infrastructure is of immense importance in creating positive outcomes.”About Apollo Hospitals Ahmedabad: Apollo Hospitals Ahmedabad established in 2003 is a 251 bed multi-specialty quaternary care hospital that provides holistic healthcare including prevention, treatment, rehabilitation and health education for patients and their families. With a dedicated and highly trained team of health care professionals, Apollo Hospitals Ahmedabad is playing a critical role in further strengthening the healthcare infrastructure in Gujarat by setting new benchmarks in quality standards in healthcare delivery.For further information please contact: Mr. Sandip Joshi – +91 -7698815013

29-year-old Mr. Ravi Sharman Ahirwar, a resident of Mumbai, underwent a successful heart transplantation surgery at Apollo Hospitals, Navi Mumbai. The heart was harvested from a 48-year-old woman from Pune, who suffered a brain haemorrhage on 2nd July, 2021. Despite efforts, she didn’t respond to the treatment and was declared brain dead as per the clinical protocols on July 14th 2021.The family was counselled and they wholeheartedly agreed for organ donation. The patient’s Liver, Kidney and Heart were also donated. The donor’s heart was transported through a Green Corridor from Jehangir Hospital, Pune to Apollo Hospitals, Navi Mumbai in Belapur, in 83 minutes. The lead doctor in this surgery, Dr Sanjeev Jadhav, Consultant, CVTS & Heart Transplant Surgery, Apollo Hospitals, Navi Mumbai said “Mr. Ravi was suffering from dilated cardiomyopathy leading to end state heart failure. He was diagnosed in 2007 and the symptoms worsened in 2019, with breathlessness on minimal walking, swelling in the lower limbs and fluid accumulation in the lungs and abdomen. He needed frequent admissions 2 to 3 times in a month for managing heart failure and he was registered for heart transplant with ZTCC in Feb 2020, as per clinical protocols. He was in the waitlist for almost one year with only 15% of heart functioning. There was a suitable donor heart found in Pune, through ZTCC. We immediately informed the patient and made all the necessary preparations for the heart transplant. The heart was retrieved at 8: 30 am at Jehangir Hospital, Pune and in 83 minutes it was transported to Apollo Hospitals, Belapur, with the help of Green Corridor. The heart was transplanted in 1 hour 30 minutes. Post the surgery the patient is doing well, awake and responding to verbal commands.” The surgery was performed by Dr Sanjeev Jadhav, CVTS & Heart Transplant Surgery, supported by a team of specialists Dr Shantesh Kaushik, CVTS Surgeon, Dr Sachin Sanagar, CVTS & Heart Transplant Surgery, Dr Kamal Singh Jottum, CVTS Surgeon, Dr Lalit Chaudhri, CVTS Surgeon and Anaesthetists (Dr Haridas Munde, Dr Saurabh Tiwari), Perfusionists (Mr. Uday and Ms. Meghana) and trained transplant nurses and technicians.