Over 600 heart and lung transplants and 1,000 ECMO cases mark a major national milestone in advanced critical careConsistent, high-survival outcomes position Apollo Hospitals, Chennai as India’s leader in advanced heart and lung failure management  Chennai, 22 January 2026: Apollo Hospitals, Chennai continues to set national benchmarks in the treatment of advanced heart and lung disease, driven by one of India’s most comprehensive heart, lung, and ECMO-supported transplant programs. The transplant team, with significant national and international experience, have performed 600+ heart and lung transplants, managed over 2,000 transplant patients, 1,000+ Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) cases, along with 250+ Left Ventricular Assist Devices (LVAD) procedures and 250+ Chronic Thromboembolic Pulmonary Hypertension (CTEPH) interventions. The multidisciplinary heart-lung transplant and MCS program at Apollo expertly manages patients with end-stage heart and or lung failure, offering personalised solutions for those who no longer respond to maximal medical therapy. Be it a stabilising, bridging or definitive treatment with transplanting   hearts and lungs, or implanting durable mechanical cardiac pumps for failing hearts, our patients are supported through a continuum of focused and evidence-based care. The team also offers comprehensive solutions for even the most complex cardiopulmonary conditions, such as the gold standard treatment of Pulmonary Endarterectomy (PEA) for appropriate patients with CTEPH, where the chronic blood clots in the lung arteries are removed surgically. The press conference held to mark this milestone featured patients from different age groups and levels of illness severity, who shared how their lives were transformed by the program. Among them were Mr. Raja Sivagurunathan (59), who survived a critical phase on ECMO support for 48 days before undergoing an emergency double-lung transplant; Mr. B. Saravanan (45), who developed sudden and severe lung failure and was supported on life-saving machines for two weeks until a successful lung transplant; and Mr. Radhae Shyam Raghuvanshi (72), whose condition worsened abruptly and who was airlifted to Chennai before receiving a double-lung transplant after advanced support.   Commenting about ECMO and Transplantation, Dr. Srinivas Rajagopala, Senior Consultant & Clinical Lead - Pulmonology, Sleep Medicine and Lung Transplant, Apollo Hospitals Chennai said, “These outcomes demonstrate how early and appropriate use of ECMO can fundamentally alter the course of severe lung failure. It provides a vital bridge allowing time for stabilisation, informed decision-making, and preparation for lung transplantation. Success lies in constant vigilance, multidisciplinary teamwork, and highly personalized care. Our goal is always meaningful recovery, not merely short-term survival.” Dr. R Ravi Kumar, the Clinical Lead for Heart Failure & Transplant Cardiology, Apollo Hospitals Chennai, described how Apollo Hospitals was achieving superior outcomes for the sickest patients with end-stage heart failure. “The team at Apollo Hospitals, with its evolving national program, is already delivering a unique clinical service that is succeeding in reducing both time to transplant and mortality on the waitlist.  We hope to repeat this at other Apollo Hospitals facilities beyond Chennai and Bangalore”. Dr. Kumud Kumar Dhital, Head of Heart and Lung Transplantation at Apollo Hospitals, Chennai, emphasized “Patients suffering from advancing heart and lung failure, with escalating medical therapy and declining quality of life, deserve to be informed of the transplant options at a far earlier stage.  Outcomes improve significantly when patients are referred early and managed with strong, protocol-driven hospital care. Age itself is not a limitation - what matters is careful evaluation, optimization, meticulous surgery, expert after-care in the ICU, and life-long post-discharge continuity of care so as to maximize chances of long-term survivorship.” Dr. IIankumaran Kaliamoorthy, CEO – Chennai Region, Apollo Hospitals also participated in the press conference. As India’s burden of advanced heart and lung disease continues to rise, Apollo Hospitals remains at the forefront of comprehensive cardiothoracic transplantation, combining innovation, expertise, and compassionate care- proving that even the most critical organ failure can be transformed into a second chance at life. Apollo Hospitals delivers 360-degree care through an integrated, multidisciplinary model involving cardiology, pulmonology, cardiothoracic surgery, anaesthesia, critical care, transplant coordination, rehabilitation, and seamlessly coordinates this with post-discharge and long-term follow-up. The program’s focus extends beyond survival to restoring functional independence and quality of life for patients while fully informing and supporting their families. ECMO serves as a vital life-support technology within this ecosystem. This mechanical support temporarily takes over the function of the heart and/or lungs when conventional therapies fail. By oxygenating blood outside the body, ECMO allows failing organs to rest and recover or acts as a crucial bridge to recovery or transplantation. The program integrates VV-ECMO for lung support, VA-ECMO for cardiac and combined heart-lung failure. LVADs in the form of implantable and mechanical heart pumps are offered to suitable candidates as durable alternatives or bridge to heart transplantation.

Apollo Hospitals has announced a transformative investment of over ₹1,700 crore in Telangana, reinforcing its long-standing commitment to building a resilient, future-ready healthcare ecosystem in the state. Unveiled at the Telangana Rising Global Summit, this multi-year initiative aligns with the state’s vision of becoming a global hub for healthcare innovation and medical excellence.  A cornerstone of this investment is the planned introduction of Proton Therapy in Telangana — a first for the Telugu states — which significantly advances precision cancer care and offers patients access to one of the world’s most advanced radiation treatment modalities closer to home. Complementing this is the establishment of a new 40,000-sqft Global Reference Laboratory, equipped with state-of-the-art capabilities in genomics, molecular diagnostics, and AI-enabled research, is strengthening early diagnosis and personalised medicine.Beyond infrastructure, Apollo’s roadmap places strong emphasis on inclusive growth and community impact. In addition, Apollo reaffirmed its focus on medical education and capacity building through the expansion of Apollo Medical College in Telangana. The initiative aims to nurture the next generation of doctors, specialists, and healthcare leaders, while strengthening the academic-clinical integration that underpins high-quality patient care. The initiative is expected to generate significant employment opportunities, empower healthcare professionals, and enhance access through telemedicine and outreach programmes for underserved populations.  Dr Sangita Reddy, Joint Managing Director of Apollo Hospitals, emphasised that this investment reflects Apollo’s purpose-driven mission to make high-quality, technology-led healthcare accessible, compassionate, and sustainable. With this commitment, Apollo Hospitals continues to partner with Telangana in shaping a healthcare ecosystem that delivers excellence today while preparing for the needs of tomorrow. 

In a bold move to safeguard India's youth from Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs), Apollo SHINE Foundation has partnered with US-based Tweak & Eat, an AI-powered nutrition platform. This collaboration targets college students flagged as "at-risk" through Apollo SHINE's nationwide "Catch ’Em Young" initiative, which screens over 100,000 students for early signs of obesity, pre-diabetes, hypertension, and metabolic syndrome.  Recent findings paint a concerning picture: 4 in 10 students are overweight or obese, 1 in 50 show elevated blood sugar, 1 in 20 have high blood pressure, and 10% meet metabolic syndrome criteria with significantly raised triglyceride and cholesterol levels. These young adults need more than alerts — they require practical tools to act.Tweak & Eat's EatGPT is a Generative AI coach that offers hyper-personalized guidance. Students can snap meal photos for instant analysis, get "tweaks" on portions and substitutions, personalized meal plans, exercise routines, and tracking for nutrition, hydration, sleep, activity, and overall lifestyle modifications. Backed by a database of 32 million food items, it pairs AI with expert nutritionists for real-time lifestyle shifts.Mr. Kishore Manohar, Director of Apollo SHINE, emphasized, “This bridges the gap between risk identification and daily management, making healthy living practical.” Dr. Indira Jayakumar, Medical Director, added, “Mindful eating and physical activities can prevent escalation.”  Tweak & Eat CEO Narayanan Ram noted, “EatGPT acts as a pocket mentor, focusing not just on counting calories, but on understanding young people's specific metabolic profiles and offering tailored health guidance.This partnership digitizes preventive care in children, turning screening insights into sustainable health habits for a healthier generation.

Apollo Foundation, in collaboration with the Billion Hearts Beating Foundation (BHB), has strengthened pre-hospital emergency care with the deployment of seven Smart Ambulances across Bengaluru, New Delhi and Navi Mumbai. Operated by Apollo Hospitals and supported by Marsh McLennan as part of its CSR initiative, the programme marks a significant step towards delivering timely, technology-enabled critical care at the community level.  Designed as mobile intensive care units, the Smart Ambulances bring advanced, connected emergency care closer to patients, ensuring that treatment begins the moment help arrives — not when hospital doors open. Each ambulance is equipped with advanced life-support systems including cardiac monitors, ventilators and defibrillators, along with digital clinical tools that support faster, more accurate decision-making during transit.  A key feature of the Smart Ambulance programme is real-time audio-visual connectivity, enabling Apollo Hospitals’ doctors to be virtually present inside the ambulance. This allows physicians to guide trained paramedics as care is initiated en route, ensuring seamless coordination with hospital emergency teams. Live GPS tracking further keeps hospitals and families informed, allowing emergency departments to prepare in advance for incoming patients and ensuring continuity of care from first response to definitive treatment.These state-of-the-art ambulances were formally unveiled in the presence of leadership from Apollo Foundation, Apollo Hospitals, Billion Hearts Beating Foundation and Marsh McLennan, reinforcing the need to strengthen emergency response capabilities in rapidly growing urban regions. In Bengaluru, the ambulances have already been deployed at community health camps, benefiting over 23,000 people by bringing advanced medical support closer to underserved populations.The initiative was launched in partnership with Marsh McLennan and inaugurated in the presence of Mr. Sanjay Kedia, CEO, Marsh McLennan & President, Marsh India, reinforcing a shared vision to reimagine emergency care through speed, technology and compassion. Together, Apollo Foundation, Billion Hearts Beating Foundation and Apollo Hospitals aim to build a responsive, community-centric emergency healthcare ecosystem that delivers critical care beyond hospital boundaries, when every second truly matters.