The Institute of Colorectal Surgery at Apollo Hospitals Chennai is one of the busiest colorectal units in the country. With more than 1200 colorectal procedures done every year, the major focus is on management of colon & rectal cancer. The unit offers end to end Colorectal services from treatment of hemorrhoids/piles to complex colorectal cancer. The Institute of Colorectal Surgery at Apollo Hospitals, Chennai has collaborated with Cleveland Clinic Florida, USA & University College London, UK to create a platform for creating awareness, teaching, training & accreditation in the management of Colorectal Diseases. The aim of this collaborative is to standardize care pathways, train and accredit surgeons involved in the care of patients with colorectal diseases. This collaborative will be an ongoing one, delivering an annual colorectal event focusing on different aspects of colorectal surgery/disease with main focus on emerging and new technologies for colorectal surgery. This consortium delivered its first Apollo International Rectal Cancer Symposium on the 1st & 2nd of April 2017. It was a two day event featuring the “Ivy League” of Surgeons and Physicians (Prof Steven Wexner USA, Prof M Berho USA, Prof Antonio Lacy Spain, Prof Gina Brown UK, Dr Richard Cohen UK & Dr Manish Chand UK) involved in Rectal Cancer Care from around the world as well as national faculty. This event will be a multidisciplinary symposium providing the participants a 360 degree view on the current trends, preoperative chemo radiation & surgical techniques in managing rectal cancer. It will help to showcase the latest advancements in managing Rectal cancer with special focus on surgical management of rectal cancer. Colorectal cancer, one of the top three cancers across the world, is witnessing around 1.4 lakh new cases and over 6 lakh deaths globally every year. The cancer that affects the colon, rectum and part of large intestine develops to be fatal if not diagnosed at earlier stages. With increasing cases among young adults in India, experts feel that there will be an epidemic outbreak in the next 10 – 15 years. Speaking on the causes and symptoms of Colorectal diseases, Dr. Venkatesh MuniKrishnan, Consultant Colorectal Surgeon and Director Apollo Colorectal Surgery, Apollo Hospitals said “One of the major causes of Colorectal cancer is due to the erratic lifestyle like consumption of junk food, red meat, smoking and alcohol coupled with pollution. With changing lifestyle habits, a lot of younger adults fall prey to colorectal cancer. However, there is a huge misconception about Piles and colorectal cancer as the symptoms is similar. People tend to ignore the symptoms through self-medication and they visit the doctor at a more complicated stage. It is always recommended to do a screening after 4 weeks of persistent symptoms to enable early diagnosis and treatment thus reducing risks of death.” Rectal bleeding, blood in stools, constipation, diarrhoea, improper bowel movements, weight loss are all symptoms of colorectal cancer. 65% of Indian population comprises of people below the age of 35 years and among this 40% of the urban population faces these symptoms. “Women who undergo normal delivery are also prone to colorectal diseases, and the symptoms are often confused with rectal infection or fissures. It is highly recommended for the women to visit a colorectal surgeon to avoid late diagnoses and treatment as not all rectal bleedings are piles,” he adds.  

The symposium was conducted at Vijnana Bhawan, Mysore University, for physicians, practitioners, government medical officers, ESI & Railway medical staff. This was a first of its kind symposium which was attended by around 200 doctors from in and around Mysore, who interacted with specialists in the field. The symposium was inaugurated by Dr. A Subrahamanyeswara Rao IPS, Police Commissioner, Mysuru City and co-ordinated by Mr. Bharateesh Reddy, Vice President & Unit Head, Apollo BGS Hospitals, Dr. Vinod Appaiah, General Manager-Operations, Apollo BGS Hospitals, Mysuru, Dr. Anjali Arun, Medical Superintendent and Dr. Arun Srinivas, Chief of Apollo Heart Institutes. Dr. Prahalad K A, Consultant General Physician at Apollo BGS Hospitals, Mysuru was appointed as the observer for the CME by KMC. Discussions were held on devise therapy for heart failure, handling complex coronary interventions, trans-catheter Aortic valve implantation, evaluation and management of peripheral vascular disease and discussions on mitral valve disease. Eminent speakers from Bangalore and Chennai were invited.  

Moya Moya is a rare disease which causes gradual narrowing or stenosis of major blood vessels supplying the brain, resulting in stroke and brain haemorrhage. Left untreated, repeated attacks can cause major disability and death. Moya Moya disease is predominantly found in Japan and surrounding areas. Once diagnosed, the only proven beneficial treatment is augmentation of brain’s blood supply by revascularisation surgery. These surgeries are complex and are available in only few centres across the world. 40-year-old and previously fit and healthy, Mr. Raju Gwala was admitted with sudden onset stroke and paralysis. His CT scan suggested brain haemorrhage along with infracts and angiogram showed advanced stage of Moya Moya disease in both hemispheres of brain. Complex surgery called “Encephalo-Duro-Arterio-Synangiosis” was performed on both sides of his brain performed by Dr. Anurag Saxena, Senior Consultant Neurosurgeon to treat this disease. In this procedure, the impaired blood supply of the brain was enhanced by using arteries supplying the scalp and muscles of head, to prevent future attacks. Patient is well after surgery and has been discharged recently. Dr Anurag Saxena is FRCS (Ed) Neurosurgery and MCh (Neurosurgery) and is pioneer along with Apollo Hospital Indore in performing not only these complex surgeries but also minimally invasive brain and spine surgeries in central India.

Union Health Minister, Sh. JP Nadda addressed the gathering and congratulated the Apollo Group and Chairman on this unique initiative Union Health Secretary, Sh. CK Mishra, highlighted the importance of this initiative in recognising those working at the grassroots The ‘Healers of India’ Story: Conceptualised by Chairman, the Apollo Group in partnership with Network18 constituted the ‘Healers of India’ initiative on September 18th 2016. This unique initiative in collaboration with Network18 (proprietors of several TV channels including among others, CNN News18, News18 India, CNBC-TV 18 etc.) is a tribute to our Chairman’s contribution to Indian healthcare and aims to identify and inspire many such HEALERS from across India. Doing so by identifying and recognizing the efforts of the rural healthcare professionals, it aimed to highlight the selfless service of many organizations and individuals working towards the cause of rural health upliftment. As part of the initiative, nominations were invited for various categories which comprehensively covered all aspects of rural health delivery in India. The initiative was a collaborative effort, with celebrated partners which included: The American India Foundation and Public Health Foundation of India as Knowledge Partners Uday Foundation as the Outreach Partner Ernst and Young as the Process Partner The initiative was launched on our foundation anniversary on September 18th with full-page press advertisements in all major national and regional print publications, outdoor hoardings across all major airports, TV advertisements and a digital campaign highlighting the initiative and seeking nominations. This outreach was followed with a sustained presence and focus on the print, electronic and digital media to ensure the widest possible number of nominations and participation from across the country. This was complemented with physical outreach to several corners of the country to spread awareness on this initiative. Categories and Nominations As a result of the outreach and awareness drive, the initiative garnered in excess of 1.3 Lac nominations across the various categories, including: Angels of Rural India Asha Workers Healers in Calamities Technology Solutions for Rural Health CSR in Healthcare Healthy State Award Citizens for Better Health Dr. Prathap C Reddy, Selfless Service Award Concurrently, two panel discussions with eminent health domain leaders was organised and aired to deep-dive into the contemporary issues in rural healthcare services. Ms. Upasna Kamineni, represented Apollo Hospitals in these discussions. The panel subjects were: In addition, several documentaries on ‘Celebrating the Healthcare Heroes in Rural India’ were aired on partner channels on 7th, 8th, 21st and 22nd January. These documentaries video-sketched the work and impact of several nominees and institutions that have worked tirelessly in rural India to uplift health standards. Awards Jury and Winner Selection To evaluate, shortlist and award winners for the categories, a high-powered and distinguished jury was empaneled. The jury included: Sh. Prasoon Joshi, Chairman, McCann World Group Asia Pacific Dr. (Prof.) Randeep Guleria, Director, AIIMS, New Delhi Dr. (Prof.) Jagdish Prasad – Director General Health Services (DGHS), Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India Dr. KK Aggarwal, Honorary Secretary General, Indian Medical Association Sh. Siddhartha Bhattacharya, Country Head, India ACCESS Health Dr. Lalit Kumar– Hony. Senior Vice President, Sulabh International Social Service Organisation Ernst & Young assisted the jury in tabulating and setting a thorough evaluation process of all nominees and presented each nominee at the Jury Meet on January 24th in Noida. The juries deliberated over the course of the day to shortlist and select the final list of winners that they deemed as most deserving from the very illustrious list of nominations. Grand Finale & Awards Night The Healers of India initiative culminated at the Grand Finale and Awards Night, which was hosted on March 29th at the Taj Palace hotel in New Delhi. The event was graced by Sh. JP Nadda, Hon’ble Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare, Sh. CK Mishra, Hon’ble Union Health Secretary, Mr. Henk Bekadem, WHO Representative to India, Dr. K Srinath Reddy, Chairman, Public Health Foundation of India and Dr. Tarun Seem, Mission Director, National Health Mission. The evening witnessed our Chairman give a memorable masterclass to the winners and the audience on healthcare, the need to work collaboratively and outlined his vision for health services in India. The audience got the opportunity to ask wide-ranging questions from the architect of modern healthcare in India, to which Chairman gave his insights and thoughts. In his keynote address, Sh. Nadda, highlighted the work being done by the Union Health Ministry and also the need to recognise the work being done for rural health in India. He lauded the efforts of Apollo and Network18 to constitute a unique set of awards for individuals and organizations working in rural India. The Union Health Secretary, Sh. Mishra, outlined the need to work in collaboration and how India needs to recognise and encourage rural health talent. The evening culminated with the declaration of the winners of the first edition of the ‘Healers of India’ awards, which were as follows Angels of Rural India Dr. Ashish Satav, Maharashtra ASHA Workers Winner 1 Sushma Gope, Jharkhand Winner 2 Shanti Devi, Uttarakhand CSR in Healthcare NICE Foundation NGO in Healthcare Foundation For Reproductive Health Services India, New Delhi Technology In Rural Healthcare Rural Health Care Foundation, Kolkata Citizen For Better Health Winner 1 Lalchand Munoth, Chairman, LLM Jain Medical Care, Chennai Winner 2 Indu Capoor, Founder-Director, CHETNA, Ahmedabad Healthy State Award Kerala Dr. Prathap C Reddy’s Selfless Service Award Dr. M R Rajagopal The awards were conferred jointly by Sh. Nadda, Sh. Mishra, Chairman, Ms. Sangita Reddy and Mr. Bekadem. The awardees narrated their stories and their aspirations for the future. The winners thanked Apollo and Network18 for the recognition which they felt will encourage more people to work to improve health standards in rural India.

Dr. BC Roy National award is the highest civilian award given to the Medical Professionals. Dr Anand K Khakhar, Programme Director, Centre for Liver Diseases and Transplantation at Apollo Hospitals, Chennai was honoured with this prestigious award for his pioneering Liver & Multi organ transplantation in Southern India as well as for his pathbreaking contributions in developing cadaver organ donation in Tamil-Nadu. He received his award from the President of India, Mr. Pranab Mukherjee at a specially held ceremony at the Rashtrapathi Bhavan. Dr Khakhar said “It is wonderful to be acknowledged for hard work and at the same time it motivates us to rededicate ourselves to the cause and our country. It is actually the achievement of my colleagues at the Centre for Liver Diseases and Transplantation and Apollo Hospitals”  

The mission of Worldwide Endometriosis March (EndoMarch) is being hosted to bring awareness to endometriosis around the world. Dr. CamranNezhat from San Francisco, President and Founder of EndoMarch has appointed Dr. Rooma Sinha from Apollo Hospitals, Hyderabad as Team Captain for India, Hyderabad. The EndoMarch hosted at Hyderabad was flagged of by Ms. Sangita Reddy, Jt. Managing Director, Apollo Hospitals at Apollo Cradle, Jubilee Hills, on Saturday. She joined by Cine Actress Ms. Rakul Preet Singh, Doctors, volunteers, walked up to Apollo Hospitals, Jubilee Hills, to raise awareness about endometriosis. Speaking on the occasion Ms. Sangita Reddy said, I appreciate Dr. Rooma Sinha and EndoMarch for raising awareness about something very often forgotten, very often as many Indian women do to just tolerate and you tolerate the pain, you don’t take care of yourself and therefore it is important that awareness is raised about this. The EndoMarch is a global phenomenon, because women all over the world are united and standing up to say that we must do something about this and on behalf of Apollo I would like to say that we are committed, we have the technology, the skill sets, the capabilities to bring back smiles to many women. The cause goes beyond the EndoMarch, the call is for good health for women and good health for India, she added. Ms. Rakul Preet Singh said, this is a problem which is very common, but there is a general psyche that lot of girls don’t like to talk about any of their personal problems anything to do with that time of the month, they think that having pain is a very regular thing, it is ok to have painful cycles and they shy away from talking about it. But let’s face the fact that it’s all very natural, we are blessed with it, we should be proud of it, if you are facing problems you need to bring it up, we need to address it. I would like to just spread that message that any of you are having that problem, please don’t shy away from addressing it, because it always good to take precautions rather than being late. It’s a great cause I am very happy that you reached out to me for associating with it. Endometriosis is often a prolonged and progressive problem that women may suffer for many years in their lives. A potential cause of debilitating pain it can cause organ damage, infertility, and other severe and life-threatening medical consequences if left inadequately treated, said Dr. Rooma Sinha. There is urgency for endometriosis awareness and advancement of endometriosis research. Joining hands with this international event, which is happening TODAY all over the world is to empower, educate and care for women suffering from endometriosis. EndoMarch is organised worldwide, every year on last Saturday of March (Worldwide Endometriosis Day®), to bring awareness for endometriosis. WHAT IS ENDOMETRIOSIS Tissue that forms the lining of the uterus (endometrium) is sometimes present in other places in some women. These sites can be ovaries, fallopian tubes, cul-de-sac (behind uterus), intestines, rectum, bladder. Endometrial tissue outside the uterus also responds to changes in hormones each month. It also breaks down and bleeds like the lining of the uterus during the menstrual cycle every month. The bleeding inside the uterus has a passage to come out as menstrual bleeding. The bleeding at these extra uterine sites collect and forms cysts (chocolate cysts) or adhesions. This can cause pain, especially before and during period. Endometriosis is found in about one third of infertile women. WHO ARE AT RISK * Young women in their reproductive age * Women with infertility * Women with uterine defects like septum or bicornuate uterus * It can run in the family SYMPTOMS Pelvic pain (pain in lower abdomen and back) is most common symptom. Such pain may occur with sex, during bowel movements or urination, or just before or during menstrual cycle. Menstrual bleeding may occur more than normal or in abnormal pattern. One third women who suffer from infertility have Endometriosis. Feeling of gaseous distension around the periods is also a non-specific presentation. Some women with endometriosis may have no symptoms. DIAGNOSIS is made by detailed clinical history and Pelvic examination. Imaging modalities like Ultrasonography or MRI helps in diagnosis in later stages of the disease. Laparoscopy-Visual inspection is the standard method in diagnosing endometriosis TREATMENT remains often prolonged for women who suffer from endometriosis. But cure is possible so never lose hope. Treatment is available in form of medical and surgical therapy and is offered depending on the problems that she is facing with. Mild disease is treated with medication, however for severe pain or infertility surgical treatment is a time-tested method and necessary. Newer medications are now being approved for use and may make difference for these women in the coming years. Today Laparoscopic surgery is the gold standard in treatment of endometriosis but needs expertise and experience. Therefore, it is recommended that endometriosis surgery should be done at centres with experience and adequate infrastructure. Two new modalities in surgical treatment of endometriosis is Laser and the assistance of Computer assisted Robotic surgery. We at Apollo Hospital at Hyderabad are fortunate to use not just laparoscopic skills but also Laser and Robotic assistance to improve outcomes in women with endometriosis. In cases of infertility these women may require assisted reproductive techniques as well. FAST FACTS ENDOMETRIOSIS An estimated 200 million women worldwide suffer from endometriosis. Endometriosis can also affect teenage girls. Incapacitating painful menstruation probably due to endometriosis is one of the main cause for women to miss school or work. Endometriosis is commonly undiagnosed or misdiagnosed. Common estimates indicate that there is 6-10 years delay before it is correctly diagnosed. Endometriosis is one of the top three causes of female infertility. Endometriosis can be a source of chronic pelvic pain and disability. Multiple medical opinions maybe needed before correct diagnosis of endometriosis is made. There is no blood test to confirm the diagnosis of endometriosis. Visual inspection of endometriosis lesions is the gold standard method for diagnosis.

A new born baby at Apollo BGS Hospitals, Mysuru was detected with Bilateral Congenital Choanal Atresia, a rare condition where there is no proper passage from nose to mouth. The condition, left unnoticed can lead to asphyxia and death. Soon after birth the doctors noticed the baby did not breathe instantly and was bluish in colour. Under the supervision of Dr. Sripathi Adhikari, Senior Consultant Pediatrician and Neonatologist and Dr. Harindra M N, Consultant ENT Surgeon at Apollo BGS Hospitals Mysuru, the baby was admitted to undergo the procedure named Transnasal Endoscopic repair without wasting anytime, as the baby’s life was at stake. The entire process was completed within 45 minutes the doctors’ expertise and vigilance worked at its best. The baby was breastfed few hours after the surgery and discharged after two days of the surgery.

Considered as one of the challenging surgeries of all time, team of expert transplant surgeons at Apollo Hospital Bannerghatta road Bangalore performed lifesaving small bowel transplant on a 45-year-old male Mr. Venkatesh Naik. It is said, to be a first of its kind surgery performed in the state of Karnataka. It is believed that the bleak chances of receiving organs at the right time for the donation and shortage of expert surgeons in the country to perform this surgery, adds to the criticality of the case. It is a very challenging surgery and only a handful of centres in the world are performing such surgeries. In India till date only three such surgeries were performed in the past. The patient, Mr. Venkatesh Naik, in June 2016, developed severe abdominal pain and went for medical advice. It was found that he had developed a clot in the superior mesenteric artery which supplies blood to intestine, and as a result his intestine had become gangrenous. Then, in order to save his life, doctors removed his entire small intestine. Talking about his recent and rare surgery, Dr. Mahesh S Gopasetty, Consultant, Multiorgan Transplant surgeon (liver, kidney, pancreas, small bowel), Apollo Hospitals Bannerghatta, said, “It is considered to be very critical surgery as the exposure to infection is much higher. The patient was referred to Apollo Hospital, Bangalore for small bowel transplant and was supported and maintained by the Apollo Hospital gut rehabilitation team with total parenteral nutrition (TPN, nutrition given through vein) and enteral feeds. The expert team of surgeons, his loving family, The Love your Liver foundation and other NGOs helped him in overcoming these complications both mentally and physically during his four months in hospital under intense observation. Finally, after eight months, on 1st of March 2017, our team of experts at Apollo Hospitals, operated on him by transplanting small bowel and gave him a new lease of life.” The patient is recovering well and is stable.

The panellists for the event comprised of acclaimed experts in the field of health and fitness, Dr Rooma Sinha(Gynaecologist), Dr K J Reddy (Orthopaedic), Dr Ravi Andrews (Nephrologist) and Ms Dinaz Vervatwala (Fitness Expert). They elaborated on pelvic pain from their respective disciplines perspective, dispelled some myths and also addressed the queries of the audience present and few from the 10000 viewers over webcast. Ms Upasana Kamineni, Managing Director, Apollo Life, in her opening remarks said, this panel discussion was being hosted to dispel myths about pelvic pain, which most women suffer during their lifetime. The expert panel from various specialities will demolish these common myths and give a sense of assurance to women. Speaking on the occasion Dr. Rooma Sinha said, “Chronic pelvic pain is a common problem in women, felt either in lower abdomen or in the back which could be associated with cyclical periods or can be present all through the month. There are a wide variety of conditions that could lead to pelvic pain. If the pain is mild it could be treated with medication, but if it is persistent, lasts for six months or more, or fails to respond to treatment, often difficult to treat, it can be considered as chronic and may need further treatment including surgery through minimally invasive Laparoscopic or Robotic techniques and in rare complicated cases through Hysterectomy. According to Dr. K J Reddy, almost every women in her lifetime is afflicted of low back pain at some point or the other, it is also the second most common cause for pain. However, on the brighter side, one can completely recover from back pain with just some simple measures. He said the common causes of low back pain is poor posture, obesity, spondylosis, disc prolapse, osteoporosis and rarely cancer. Simple measures like sitting properly on a chair, regular exercises like walking, swimming, cycling, taking simple precautions while lifting weights and carrying heavy things will prevent this problem. Also, during pregnancy if one exercises regularly, most back pains will be prevented. Hence, the best medicine to prevent and treat low back pain is regular exercises, he added. Dr. Ravi Andrews said, “Pelvic pain is very common in women and nearly 75% of women get pelvic pain at some time or the other in their lives. Renal causes of pelvic pain include urinary tract infection (UTI), stones, cancers, prolapse of the bladder and past surgical scars. Of these, UTI is the commonest. One in three women get at least one UTI by age 24 and as they grow older, the rate increases and 50% of women get at least one UTI in their lifetime. Untreated UTI leads to fertility issues. The common myths for the cause of UTI are Pants or tight clothing; Tampons or pads; Bicycle; Showers, baths, bubble baths; Coffee, tea or alcohol etc, but the actual reality is UTI is caused by frequent sexual intercourse; Previous UTI; usage of Condoms, Diaphragm or Antibiotic abuse. According to Ms Dinaz Vervatwala, “The musculoskeletal causes of pelvic pain could be very weak core muscle or tight hamstring muscles. Weak and tight back muscles could also give rise to pelvic pain. A good analysis by a physical therapist will help in diagnosing the problem and giving an accurate exercise prescription. Posture plays a major role in preventing pelvic pain. A regular exercise program under the guidance of physical therapists will help in the prevention of pelvic pain. Excess body weight could also be a reason for pelvic pain so therefore, a balanced diet will help in keeping weight under control.” The President of Apollo Life, Ariz Rizvi, moderating the session said, “Women are the primary caregivers and it is unfair to load them with the responsibility of taking care of everyone and themselves too.” Thus, he advocated that men should take personal interest in the well-being of their partners.

International Women’s day is marked to celebrate the spirit of Womanhood world-wide. This day recognizes women as an embodiment of strength and power and an individual who gives birth to new life. A baby’s birth is one of the most special and unique times in a family’s life; an occasion met with a combination of unbridled joy, and jittery nerves, which surrounds the woman and her baby. On this occasion, Apollo Cradle, Chennai highlighted an unusual yet successful surgery performed by a team of experts. The patient, a 32-year-old woman, who was carrying 34 weeks foetus had complaints of excruciating pain in the back and decreased movement of left leg. Earlier antenatal check- ups at a private hospital, suggested degenerative disc disease and precautions by the patient was not taken. Pregnancy becomes more critical in a woman with spinal disc prolapse. The growing foetus enhances the physical limitations of women with spinal disability. This pregnant mother with spinal injury was successfully managed in Apollo Cradle by a multi-disciplinary team comprising of obstetrician, orthpedician, anaesthetist, paediatrician and on the third day she was able to walk with the help of physiotherapist,” said Dr. Charumathi, Gynecologist. Led by India’s best Obstetricians and specially trained nurses, Apollo Cradle houses experienced clinical support and personal attention which are hallmarks of the obstetric care. “We have an immense pleasure in celebrating the second anniversary of this speciality. We will continue to provide care and service with soothing, tastefully adorned environments paired with the state-of-the-art equipment and delivery suites,” Dr Sumana Manohar, Gynaecologist, Apollo Cradle. Apollo Cradle is well known for dealing with high risk obstetrics such as patients with pre-eclampsia, liver dysfunction, neurological problems, cardiac diseases, placental problems and sfetal anomalies since the time of its inception,” said Dr. Jaishree Gajaraj, Gynecologist. The event concluded with the launch of 4 specialty clinics, a clinic for High Risk pregnancy, Urinary Continence Clinic, Sexual Health Clinic and a clinic for Polycystic Ovary Syndrome.

The Apollo Hospitals Enterprise Limited proudly announced its partnership with MobileODT that will apply its Enhanced Visual Assessment (EVA) System to reduce loss of follow up for women who screen positive on cervical cancer screening tests, and increase internal capacity to screen for cervical cancer at a lower cost. Cervical cancer kills 1 Indian every 7 minutes and more women die from cervical cancer in India, than in any other country and it is preventable. However, to be effective in reducing cervical cancer incidence and mortality, screening programs must be of high quality. MobileODT’s Enhanced Visual Assessment (EVA) System, is a comprehensive point of care tool, built on a smartphone, for cervical cancer screening. The device augments a smartphone’s optics to enable enhanced imaging while the app allows for image and patient data capture for remote consultation. Apollo Research and Innovations (ARI), a division of Apollo Hospitals has a comprehensive ecosystem to undertake evaluation and validation of Innovations in Healthcare. With the burden of cervical cancer, it is important to have clarity on cervical cancer screening to get information and actual data from the rural, semi-urban and urban areas to get realistic community data and perspective. Seemant Jauhari, CEO – Research & Innovations, Apollo Hospitals said, “The Indian healthcare landscape presents significant challenges related to patient volumes access and affordability. Traditional healthcare delivery models necessarily need to be disrupted by converging Technology with healthcare. Mobile ODT is one such disruptive technology which shall facilitate taking cervical screening to the people of India, enable early screening and hence early treatment thus slowing down incidences of cervical cancer. It maximises the chances of making cervical cancer screening programme successful.” “India is home to 1/3 of all cervical cancer deaths worldwide. We are honoured to be working with Apollo Hospitals given its focus on quality, innovative, and patient centred care to tackle this large, but preventable challenge women face across all of India. We hope this partnership continues to expand, to ensure all Apollo patients have quality cervical cancer screening from the smallest rural clinic and telemedicine efforts to the large urban centres.” said Ariel Beery, CEO, MobileODT. Mobile ODT EVA system has been piloted around the world (namely in Haiti, Guatemala, Botswana, Kenya, Nepal, Mexico, Kenya, United States) before the collaboration with Apollo Hospitals. It is important to pilot the device over 5 sites to understand the efficacy, utility and usability of the technology. The sites chosen cover rural area (Aragonda), semi-urban (Apollo Vanagaram, Apollo Madurai), urban (Apollo First Med, Apollo Tondiarpet) and high income group (Bangalore). With the presence of Apollo Hospital centres in all the areas, Apollo Research and Innovations (ARI) is in a position to give the public data, rather than restricting to only a regional data. Apollo Hospitals Enterprise Limited with MobileODT was selected from 330 companies to apply the life-saving technology in India through TechEmerge, which matches technology companies around the world with partners in emerging markets to deliver tools that improve quality of life. As a result of the rigorous process, with advisors from IFC and Health 2.0 part of the design, MobileODT is launching new pilots with Apollo Hospitals and International Oncology.  

Dr Ranjith Nair, head of Department, Orthopaedics, Apollo Hospital Muscat, led his orthopaedic team to perform an entire Osteochondral Autograft Transfer System (OATS) surgery arthroscopically (keyhole surgery technique). A surgical procedure of this kind is a rare feat in Oman, as majority of centres skilled in this discipline perform this technique as open surgeries involving a longer recovery period. “OATS is not recommended for everyone but is typically used for younger patients under 50 years with minimal cartilage damage and available healthy cartilage for transfer. A successful OATS surgery will enable the bone and cartilage to grow into the damaged area of the knee, successfully resolving the patient’s knee pain. OATS is considered to be the gold standard in orthopaedic surgery for successful cartilage repair,” said Dr Nair. The patient was a 22-year-old male who approached Dr Nair with continuing pain in his left knee, the aftermath of a fall while playing football three months ago. Dr Nair added, “The patient is recovering smoothly and post operatively has already started physiotherapy and non-weight bearing crutch walking.” Dr Dilip Singhvi, Medical Director, Apollo Hospitals, said, “Dr Nair and his team have always been focused on using better surgical techniques for excellent results.”