Renowned for its commitment to excellence in healthcare, Apollo Cancer Centre, Chennai (ACC), has achieved a ground-breaking surgical milestone by successfully performing South Asia’s first-ever robotic nipple-sparing mastectomy with immediate reconstruction. The surgeons were able to remove the entire breast while preserving the nipple through tiny hidden incisions, enabling aesthetic outcomes for the patient. Dr. Preetha Reddy, the Executive Vice Chairperson of Apollo Hospitals Enterprise Limited, expressed immense pride in a ground breaking achievement, stating, “It is exhilarating to witness the extraordinary triumph of our robotic surgical team, under the leadership of Dr. Venkat and Dr. Priya, in achieving South Asia’s inaugural robotic bilateral nipple-sparing mastectomy, with the Da Vinci Xi. The exceptional results of this innovative surgery herald the inauguration of RoBreaS, India’s premier robotic breast surgery program. Moreover, setting a new standard in surgical excellence, this effort paves the way for a future where advanced technology and compassionate care converge, igniting new hope in cancer care. At large, it is a testament to our unwavering dedication to offering superior treatment options, and make advanced healthcare much more accessible to all.” Breast cancer stands as the most prevalent cancer in women globally, and it ranks as the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths. Recognizing the increasing incidence of breast cancer, particularly in younger women, Apollo Cancer Centre has been at the forefront of adopting cutting-edge technologies to improve patient outcomes. Read more about South Asia’s first-ever robotic nipple-sparing mastectomy performed at Apollo Cancer Centre, Chennai

Apollo Hospitals, one of the world’s largest vertically integrated healthcare provider, has announced the appointment of Dr Madhu Sasidhar as President and CEO of its hospital division. In this role, Dr Madhu will oversee Apollo’s hospital business and will focus on continuing to deliver the world’s best clinical outcomes, coupled with enhancing Apollo’s hallmark patient care and experience. Prior to joining Apollo, Dr Madhu held various roles at Cleveland Clinic, including President of Cleveland Clinic Tradition Hospital. Dr Madhu is a practicing physician with US board certifications in internal medicine, as well as pulmonary and critical care medicine. He is a published author with numerous contributions to book chapters, journal articles, and peer-reviewed publications. Dr Madhu is also a self-taught programmer with expertise in big data systems and holds a patent through Cleveland Clinic Innovations for a technology he invented. He completed his medical education at JIPMER, Pondicherry, and pursued further studies in Internal Medicine at St Luke’s-Roosevelt Hospital in New York City. He also completed fellowships in Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine at Yale University, New Haven, USA, and earned his Global Executive Masters in Business Administration from INSEAD, Fontainebleau, France. Dr. Prathap Chandra Reddy, Founder Chairman, Apollo Hospitals Group, said, “Our mission is to deliver the world’s best care to our patients. I am pleased to welcome Dr Madhu Sasidhar to the Apollo family. He brings global experience along with a unique combination of administrative excellence, deep clinical understanding and technology expertise. These will be instrumental in Apollo’s next phase of rapid growth. I wish him all the best and look forward to collaborating with him so we can bring more cutting edge treatments across more facilities to more patients across India and the world.” Dr. Madhu Sasidhar, President & CEO, Apollo Hospitals Group said, “It is an honor to join a legendary institution like Apollo that has defined the playbook for the entire healthcare Industry in our country. I look forward to supporting the vision of our Chairman Dr Prathap Reddy, our MD Ms Suneeta Reddy and other executive directors and Apollo’s talented leadership team to bring world class care to more patients in India and around the world and set new benchmarks for quality, compassion and high-end care. Dr Madhu’s appointment is part of a planned transition that has been in effect since he joined Apollo as its Chief Strategy Office in October 2023. As part of this transition, Dr. K Hari Prasad, the outgoing President of Apollo Hospitals, will be retiring from his position after a distinguished 27 years career at Apollo. The board places on record the outstanding role played by Dr Hari Prasad over his 27 years career with Apollo.

In a monumental stride towards advancing prostate cancer care in India, Apollo Hospitals has unveiled groundbreaking findings in its latest study, ‘Determining age‑specific prostate‑specific antigen for healthy Indian men’ published the prestigious Indian Journal of Urology. Led by Dr. N Ragavan and Dr. Sanjai Addla, from Apollo Hospitals, Chennai and Apollo Hospitals, Hyderabad, respectively, the study involved nearly 100,000 healthy men across diverse age groups and regions in Indi a, establishing new reference values for prostate-specific antigen (PSA) specific to the Indian demographic. PSA is an established blood marker for early diagnosis and monitoring of treatment for prostate cancer. Since 1993, international norms for normal PSA values have been based on a study from the USA and the same have been adopted in India. The western standards quiet often were found to be ill-suited for the Indian population over to diverse genetic demarcations. This latest groundbreaking Apollo study reveals that PSA values in India differ, prompting the establishment of new, tailored standards. Key findings include age-specific PSA standards, a progressive increase in PSA levels with age, and Indian-specific PSA values facilitating earlier detection in younger men. With this, Apollo Hospitals, Clinics and Diagnostics network will move towards the adoption of these new PSA standards for Prostate Screening. Dr Sangita Reddy, Joint Managing Director, Apollo Hospitals Group said, “This landmark study ushers a transformative moment in India’s prostate cancer care landscape, which resonates with our mission to conquer cancer, at every touchpoint possible. Establishing new prostate cancer screening standards for Indian men across ages in a landmark study reflects our commitment to pioneering advancements that redefine cancer care. With divergent PSA standards for different age groups, a progressive increase in levels with age, and Indian-specific values, we are transforming the landscape of prostate cancer care. This monumental shift not only facilitates earlier detection in younger men but also prevents unnecessary investigations in older individuals. By adopting these tailored standards, Apollo Hospitals reaffirms its commitment to patient-centric care and sets the stage for a new paradigm in healthcare innovation.” Prof Sanjai Addla, Consultant Uro-oncologist, Apollo Hospitals, Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad: “Our study, the largest in India, re-evaluates the age-specific PSA reference ranges tailored for the Indian population. Having data from 1lakh healthy men, we are confident to bridge the gap and enhance the accuracy of serum PSA testing in detecting prostate cancer among Indian men, improving its efficacy as a diagnostic marker and provides hope of treatment for those in the advanced stages also. As the incidence of prostate cancer rises in India, our study sought to address the limited data on age-specific PSA levels in our population. The observed link between serum PSA levels and age among Indian men contrasts with established standards for Caucasian men. This study offers a significant opportunity to redefine age-specific PSA reference ranges for Indian men, enabling more precise clinical decision-making and enhancing our ability to combat prostate cancer effectively.” Key findings from the Apollo study published in the Indian Journal of Urology of PSA values in 100,000 healthy men who visited Apollo Hospitals (during 2011-2018) for Indian population norms: Established divergent PSA standards for different age groups, contrasting with prior global norms. Revealed a progressive increase in PSA levels with age:

Apollo Hospitals successfully concluded its prestigious two-day annual conference titled International Health Dialogue, an amalgamation of the International Patient Safety Conference (IPSC) & Transforming Healthcare with Information Technology (THIT), in Bangalore. Over the past two days, IHD saw participation from 4,000+ current and aspiring healthcare professionals, government officials and technology enthusiasts who came together to share industry best practices in building a strong technological framework to make India a leading, global healthcare destination. Day 2 of Apollo Hospitals’ 11th International Health Dialogue emerged as a call to action to India’s healthcare ecosystem for prioritizing health equity and saw notable leaders such as Dr. Neelam Dhingra, Head of the Patient Safety Flagship Unit at the World Health Organization (WHO), Dr. Carsten Engel, Chief Executive Officer of the International Society for Quality in Health Care (ISQua), Dr. Joel Roos, Vice President of International Accreditation at Joint Commission International (JCI) share their perspectives on creating awareness around patient safety rights. Additionally, Mr. Richard Mitchell, Chief Executive, University Hospitals of Leicester, NHS Trust (UHL); Dr. Anupam Sibal, Group Director Medical Services, Apollo Hospitals; Dr. Stella Vig, National Medical Director for Secondary Care and National Clinical Director for Elective Care, NHS, England discussed future of patient safety in the AI world and shared global best practices to aid our ecosystem. While Dr. Karan Thakur, Group Lead, Sustainability & ESG, Vice President, Public Affairs, Apollo Hospitals moderated a session around the healthcare sector contributing to global NetZero Goals, Dr. Navina Evans, CBE, Chief Workforce, Training & Education Officer, NHS, England delivered a hard hitting keynote address on the tech-savvy face of the future healthcare workforce. The sessions throughout the day focused on topics related to how public entities can shape the future of patient safety; these were led by Atul Mohan Kochhar, CEO of the National Accreditation Board for Hospitals and Healthcare Providers, and Sri D. Randeep, IAS, Commissioner of Health & Family Welfare Services. In addition, Dr. Shweta Prabhakar, Head of Quality & Patient Safety at Fortis Hospital, Mumbai, Mr. Sravan Kumar, Deputy Director of Quality at Zulekha Healthcare Group, and Dr. Sathya R Sriram, CEO of Preventive Health at Apollo Hospitals, discussed how data is shaping the future of preventive health but needs double the protection to ensure patient safety. A major highlight of IHD 2024 was the first edition of Solvathon 2024, a 36-hour hackathon that brought together 14 dynamic teams, spanning diverse disciplines such as medicine, engineering, data science, and entrepreneurship, to innovate solutions for real-world healthcare challenges. Organised by Apollo Research and Innovations, in partnership with the Indian Institute of Technology Alumni Centre Bangalore (IIT ACB) and the THIT conference, participants dedicated themselves to tackling urgent healthcare issues by developing working prototypes and competitive solutions rooted in feasibility, scalability and impact. While InfoMeds is the winner in the student’s category, Gabongo emerged as the winner in the startup category, where they received cash prizes worth 1 lakh each. The winning teams showcased their innovations to industry leaders at the THIT Conference and also now have the opportunity to collaborate with Apollo teams for commercial implementation. Interestingly, the problem statements that the teams solved for were ‘Automated calculator of six minute walk distance and oxygen saturation using a smartwatch for patients with chronic lung disease’ and ‘Computer vision for patient status detection and risk score calculation for widespread adoption of remote care services’ in the students category and startup category respectively. Overall, the 11th edition of International Health Dialogue 2024 saw attendance from 4000+ delegates from 30+ countries, including healthcare and medical professionals, government officials and policymakers, students and more. Since the first edition in 2013, the spectrum of participants and range of discussions have magnified. With over 100+ sessions, 200+ speakers, the sessions in 2024 amplified patient perspective, put the spotlight on the integration of artificial intelligence in building a futuristic healthcare model and emphasized on the rising importance of data privacy at every step.

In a significant move that will substantially enhance the quality of oncology care, Apollo Cancer Centre, Bengaluru, has launched India’s first AI-Precision Oncology Centre (POC). The Centre will help oncologists, patients and care givers to arrive at the best possible results in a time bound manner, using the enormous possibilities offered by AI. The POC with its comprehensive and specialised medical services ensures accurate diagnosis, real-time insights, cancer risk assessment, treatment protocol and continuum of care, thus providing cutting-edge services in Oncology care not seen in India earlier. The AI-POC is designed to be patient-centric, in the most personalized manner. It identifies eligible patients for targeted therapy and immunotherapy, as part of the diagnosis and treatment planning. With the help of conversational AI, it educates the patients and family on diagnosis, treatment FAQs and connections to support groups. The facility was inaugurated by Mr Dinesh Gundu Rao, State Minister for Health & Family Welfare, Karnataka in the presence of Ms Suneeta Reddy, Managing Director at Apollo Hospitals Enterprise Ltd, Dr Vijay Agarwal, Lead & Senior Consultant – Medical Oncology, Apollo Cancer Centre (ACC), and Dr Vishwanath S, Senior Consultant – Medical Oncology, ACC, Bangalore. Speaking at the inauguration, Mr Dinesh Gundu Rao, State Minister for Health & Family Welfare, Karnataka, said, “As we inaugurate India’s first AI-driven Precision Oncology Centre at Apollo Cancer Centres, Bengaluru, I am honoured to witness a ground breaking convergence of innovation and healthcare. This pioneering initiative not only represents a monumental leap in medical technology but it also symbolises hope and progress for patients and caregivers. Apollo Hospitals’ commitment to personalised oncology care through AI is a beacon of compassion and advancement, ensuring a brighter future for those battling cancer.” Ms. Suneeta Reddy, Managing Director, Apollo Hospitals Enterprise Ltd, said, “The launch of AI Precision Oncology Centre marks a significant stride in redefining cancer care. This transformative initiative is a testament to our unwavering commitment to personalized medicine and technological innovation. The Precision Oncology Centre reflects our dedication to providing patients with the most advanced, tailored treatments, underscoring Apollo Hospitals’ relentless pursuit of excellence in healthcare delivery.” Dr Vijay Agarwal, Lead & Senior Consultant, Medical Oncology, ACC, Bengaluru, said, “The Centre will support new patient identification through auto-alerts to operational teams that identify eligible patients for PoCs. Patient SOS auto-alerts to operational teams on deteriorating patient outcomes for intervention and clinical escalation form another key feature.” Dr Vishwanath S, Senior Consultant, Medical Oncology, ACC, Bengaluru, added, “Clinically, it helps in care pathway compliance by monitoring adherence to standard care pathways. Also for patient management based on genomic, clinical, and pathological profiles. Clinical alerts and recommendations for diagnostic tests, enrollment for Value Based Care (VBC) & other patient benefit programs are some of the uses. Patient drop-off and Patient reported outcome measures (PROMs) alerts for timely interventions are among the other benefits.” Apollo Hospitals’ commitment to innovation and excellence is embodied in the unveiling of the AI-driven Precision Oncology Centre. The Precision Oncology Centre embodies our dedication to revolutionizing oncology care through personalized, data-driven solutions, reflecting Apollo Hospitals’ unwavering pursuit of excellence in healthcare delivery.

In an effort to uphold standards of clinical excellence and elevate standards of care for those with cardiological conditions, a team of doctors from Apollo Hospital have implemented a pioneering set of techniques to treat complex heart blocks. The team, led by Interventional Cardiologist Dr Sengottuvelu G, recently demonstrated the specialized techniques at prestigious international forums in association with Asian Pacific Society of Interventional Cardiology and European Bifurcation Club and received peer acclaim. Ms. Suneeta Reddy, Managing Director, Apollo Hospitals Group, said, “Hearty congratulations to Dr Sengottuvelu and his team on the breakthrough procedures! This feat is testimony to the fact that our healthcare model matches global standards and is in sync with the latest in medicine and is powered by top minds. Our surgeons bring skill, experience and insight to their practice and we are delighted that they have earned acclaim on the global stage. We at Apollo Hospitals recognize that Cardiology is a key specialty and will thus continue to invest in cutting-edge equipment in this space to ensure our doctors are able to deliver exemplary care and achieve optimal outcomes.” Read More about the use of synergistic device strategy in treating complex heart blocks

In a remarkable medical achievement, Apollo Hospitals Ahmedabad has successfully performed a liver transplant on a 7-month-old male child, weighing just 5.5 kg. The feat of the first-ever liver transplant for an infant under the age of one in Gujarat and marks a significant milestone in the field of pediatric liver transplantation in the state. An experienced team of healthcare experts were involved in the transplant including Prof. Darius Mirza, a stalwart with experience, having led the Birmingham team in performing over 6,000 liver transplants across the globe. Prof. Mirza, The Lead Liver Transplant Surgeon, Western region, Apollo Hospitals Group, joined Dr. Chirag Desai, Senior Liver Transplant Surgeon, Dr. Pathik Parikh, Liver Transplant Physician, Dr. Pushkar Srivastava, Dr Shailesh Sable (Transplant Surgeon), Dr Rohan Chaudhary (Transplant Surgeon), Head of Department- Pediatric intensivist and Neonatologist, along with a large, experienced team of specialists to offer the best quality care in the management of liver diseases and transplant in Gujarat. The patient was a male child from Beyt Dwarka, Gujarat. The child’s medical challenges began with the onset of jaundice within a few weeks of his birth. Unfortunately, the condition progressed rapidly, leading to irreversible liver damage due to a genetic disease known as Progressive Familial Intrahepatic Cholestasis (PFIC). Dr. Pathik Parikh (Senior Liver Transplant Physician), at Apollo Hospitals Ahmedabad, said, “When we diagnosed the child with PFIC, we knew there was no alternative but to perform a liver transplant to prevent further damage to other vital organs. The child’s parents, who are also young adults, consented to the procedure on being explained the seriousness of their child’s condition.” Since the chance of getting a liver for such a young child is very low, the mother donated a portion of her liver for the transplant. The team at Apollo Hospitals, Ahmedabad faced several challenges before, during and after the surgery due to the complex nature of the surgery. One of the biggest challenges was the child’s extremely small body. Meticulous surgical planning was required to ensure the child was nutritionally optimized to tolerate the 8–10-hour surgery. According to Dr. Pushkar Srivastava, Head of Department- Pediatric Intensivist & Neonatologist at Apollo Hospitals Ahmedabad, the surgery also presented unique difficulties. “Children of such a young age present a unique challenge. Their blood vessels are very small, 1-2 mm in size. While supplying the entire organ after transplant they are very vulnerable to blockage which has to be prevented by blood thinner which increases the risk of bleeding in the post-operative period. Even the slightest blood loss is not tolerated by small babies this young. On top of that, babies who are inherently more prone to infections have to be given immune suppression medicine to prevent transplant rejection. Maintaining heart rhythm was an additional challenge for this child. We came out with flying colours and this surgery put us altogether in a different league as compared to other Liver Transplant Units in the State. Teamwork of people from various specialties, excellent nursing care and state of the art infrastructure of Apollo were vital for our success,” said Dr. Pushkar Srivastava. Making stitches on such small veins and ensuring blood flow continues is extremely challenging and the most critical part of the surgery. Even the most experienced surgeons can falter while performing this procedure, but the team at Apollo Hospitals, Ahmedabad came through. The successful liver transplant was performed on the child on September 25, and he is now recovering well.“The child is feeding normally, and the jaundice has disappeared. Our team is managing the post-surgery challenges, including immune suppression and nutrition care; it is still early days, and we expect the child to continue to improve” said Prof Dr. Darius Mirza, the Lead Liver Transplant Surgeon, Western Region, Apollo Hospitals Group at Apollo Hospitals Ahmedabad. The child was discharged from the hospital, a fortnight after the successful transplant, marking the beginning of a new and healthy chapter in his life. Mr. Neeraj Lal, COO of Apollo Hospitals Ahmedabad, lauded the medical team for its remarkable achievement.“Prof Darius Mirza brings huge international experience which will benefit our patients. Our liver transplant team will offer quality care in liver disease management and transplantation. The successful liver transplant not only offers hope to the child and his family but also reflects the exceptional skills and dedication of our team in setting new benchmarks in healthcare,” Mr. Lal added.

Apollo Hospitals is the largest Cardiac care program in India and one of the leading cardiac programs in the world in terms of scale, outcomes, complexity, diversity and access. Apollo’s unparalleled clinical excellence is built on extensive experience of performing over 300,000 angioplasties and 200,000 cardiac surgeries and providing the full spectrum of cardiac care services. With a steadfast commitment to pioneering healthcare, Apollo has not only transformed lives but also redefined excellence in cardiovascular care. The Cardiac Center of Excellence at Apollo Hospitals stands as a testament to the institution’s leadership, state-of-the-art facilities, exceptional clinical team, and ground-breaking technologies. Spanning across 38 hospitals with 375+ consultants, Apollo is the first corporate hospital group and largest private tertiary care institution for cardiovascular sciences in India. It attracts patients across the globe (from over 140 countries) for best-in-class outcomes compared to international benchmarks and seamless service delivery at affordable price points. The clinical offering at Apollo is one of the most comprehensive in the world, providing treatment for coronary artery disease, structural heart disease, congenital heart conditions and heart failure through advanced modalities ranging from minimally invasive and robot assisted surgery, to technology-intensive complex transcatheter therapies to transplant services, critical care, post-op rehab services as well as a significant footprint in preventive cardiac care through India’s first AI driven cardiac risk prediction and disease prevention program – AICVD. Some of the key highlights of Apollo’s Cardiovascular Center of Excellence include: Unprecedented Number of Procedures: Since its first angioplasty as well as its first cardiac surgery performed in 1986, Apollo has consistently set records in terms of volume of procedures performed. Year after year, our dedicated team of medical professionals has been conducting tens of thousands of successful procedures offering a new lease of life to patients. Since its inception, Apollo has conducted more than 300,000 angioplasties and 200,000 cardiac surgeries, a clear leader in the space. World-class Infrastructure and Technology: Apollo is credited with bringing world class tertiary care of international standards to the country. A key ingredient of this is the investment in state-of-the-art medical facilities to accommodate the growing need for advanced cardiac care. Apollo currently has nearly 50 catheterisation labs across 38 centers in India with a capacity of 10,000 beds. Apollo’s Centers of Excellence are equipped with the latest technology and medical infrastructure spanning robotic surgery and endovascular robotic suites, high-end coronary imaging and precision intervention modalities, 3D electrophysiology suite, high end critical care and life support, high-end diagnostics and screening services to ensure it serves patients at the cutting edge of science. Exceptional Clinical Team: The heart of Apollo’s success lies in its exceptional team of healthcare professionals, including world-renowned cardiologists, cardiac surgeons, anaesthetists, physicians, nurses, technicians and support staff that work together as a joint heart team. Their commitment to providing compassionate, patient-centered care is second to none. The team currently stands at 375+ specialist clinicians (cardiologists and cardiothoracic surgeons) across all sub-specialties of cardiac sciences spanning interventional cardiology, medical and preventive cardiology, cardiac surgery, minimally invasive and robotic surgery, electrophysiology, transplant and paediatric cardiology & CT surgery. High end and complex Procedures: Apollo Hospitals has shaped the growth of cardiac therapies in India by being innovators and early adopters of advanced and high-risk modalities. It has the largest Robotic Cardiac Surgery program in the country with more than 500 surgeries under its belt. It has led the way in structural heart disease treatments with 500+ transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) procedures and nearly 70% of the Mitraclip implantations (to treat mitral valve regurgitation) in the country. Apollo has pioneered the Emergency Medicine specialty by codifying ACS (Acute Coronary Syndrome) protocols to manage and treat cases of heart-attack. It is also the first private hospital to perform a heart transplant. It continues to perform a heavy mix of complex and high-risk procedures that many other hospitals are not equipped to do. AICVD Tool: Apollo is proud to announce that 1 million patients have taken the AICVD test score. AICVD predicts, with more than 90% accuracy, the risk of developing coronary artery disease in next 10 years. A prospective study of these patients has reinforced the predictive power of this proprietary AI model. Dr. Prathap C. Reddy, Founder and Chairman of Apollo Hospitals Group said “Having been a practicing cardiologist, I have been particularly invested in the growth and development of Cardiac Sciences at Apollo. Our first angioplasty and bypass surgery in 1986 marked the beginning of an incredible journey. Since then, our relentless commitment to healthcare involving adoption of the latest and safest methods with ethical execution and wide reach have helped us perform over 200,000 cardiac surgeries and over 300,000 angioplasties across Apollo Hospitals Group with millions of patients under a long-term cardiac care plan.” Dr Sangita Reddy, Joint Managing Director, Apollo Hospitals Group said ” Our next frontier is the battle against the NCD epidemic where we aim to stem the incidence of cardiovascular diseases and ensure early detection. Apollo has launched a first-of-its kind artificial intelligence (AI) driven personalised preventive health program called ‘ProHealth’. The need of the hour is true personalisation and prediction accompanied with ongoing health mentorship. Our revolutionary cardiac risk prediction tool, AICVD, has shown that one can expect a 90% predictive success in detecting coronary artery disease 10 years in advance. This information can be vital and life-changing in terms of preventing and managing heart disease proactively. We are happy to share this risk prediction model with everyone including the government since it would be a valuable tool in population health” As Apollo Hospitals celebrates this remarkable milestone, it reaffirms its commitment to delivering excellence in cardiovascular care and advancing the frontiers of medicine. The institution remains steadfast in its mission to heal and transform lives through innovative and compassionate healthcare.

Apollo Multispeciality Hospitals Limited, which is a 100% subsidiary of Apollo Hospitals Enterprise Ltd. has acquired a partially built hospital in Sonarpur, Kolkata with a total capacity of 325 beds as an asset sale. The first phase of the hospital with 225 beds built over 1.75 lakh square feet will be commissioned in the next 12 months and will bring Apollo’s hallmark levels of care to more consumers in the eastern region by delivering state-of-the-art healthcare across all broad and high-end specialties including a comprehensive Oncology services with Radiotherapy. The acquisition is being fully funded by Apollo Multi Speciality Hospitals through its own internal accruals. Speaking on the acquisition, Ms Suneeta Reddy, Managing Director, Apollo Hospitals Group said, “At Apollo Hospitals, our mission is to bring the best healthcare to all. For over 20 years, consumers in Kolkata and the North-East have trusted Apollo as their care provider of choice due to our unique combination of cutting-edge technology, exceptional clinical talent, and compassionate service. The addition of this new facility is part of our planned capacity expansion across the country and will allow us to serve even more people in the region.” This is Apollo’s second hospital in Kolkata, and its location will complement the clinical offering in the flagship hospital in Kolkata. As the fifth hospital in the eastern region, the facility further strengthens Apollo’s dominant position as the largest healthcare provider there with over 1800 beds across Kolkata, Bhubaneshwar and Guwahati. This acquisition is an important step in Apollo’s strategy to expand in key regions through brownfield and greenfield projects. Apollo will further augment its capacity in the East by an addition of another 700 beds over the next 3 years, taking the total bed count for Apollo in eastern region to 2500.

Apollo Hospitals continues to spearhead advancements in healthcare by providing accessible and top-quality medical services remotely. With a steadfast commitment to improving global healthcare, Apollo Telehealth has transformed the way patients and healthcare professionals interact, making quality medical care available to all, regardless of geographical barriers – impacting the lives of more than 20 million individuals. Empowering Patients Through Virtual Healthcare Apollo Telehealth’s innovative approach to healthcare delivery has made medical consultations accessible from anywhere. Technology has reduced travel and wait time and also improved outcomes by providing access to a doctor in just a few clicks. Recently, a 4-year-old baby was brought to an Apollo Telemedicine center at Kaza, Himachal Pradesh, with severe lesions on his face. A tele-consultation was immediately arranged with a Senior Dermatologist at Chennai; who was able to diagnose the condition as Impetigo Contagiosa and prescribed IV antibiotics. The treatment was carried out with continuous monitoring which improved the condition of the baby. With a team of 200+ members, Apollo Telehealth’s command centre handles over 20,000 clinical transactions daily. These services encompass emergency, primary, secondary, and other essential preventive healthcare services, alongside quality audits and training sessions. Access to a Comprehensive Range of Services Apollo Telehealth offers a comprehensive suite of remote healthcare services, including specialized services, such as Tele-Emergency, Tele-Radiology, and Tele-Ophthalmology, extend to even the most distant regions, enhancing the healthcare landscape and improving the overall quality of life. A testament to the efficiency of the services is the case of a 90-year-old woman from the distant village of Khumulwng, West Tripura. Using Apollo’s Tele-Emergency service, she was quickly admitted to the Kherengbar Hospital’s Tele- Emergency centre. Preliminary evaluations indicated a looming hypertensive heart failure. Recognizing the gravity of the situation, the paramedics team promptly connected with Apollo Multi- Speciality Hospitals in Kolkata. This rapid intervention was made possible under the expert supervision of leading emergency care physicians, leveraging Apollo’s cutting-edge digital systems. Their timely guidance ensured the patient’s stabilization, eliminating the delays and risks associated with distant travel. Till date, over 3000 Tele-Emergency cases have been successfully stabilized through the implementation of Tele-Emergency services in states like Himachal Pradesh, Tripura, and others. Timely interventions as such continue to save countless individuals across the country. Unparalleled Quality and Expertise At the heart of Apollo Telehealth’s efforts lies its commitment to maintaining the highest standards of medical excellence. The platform offers a network of highly qualified and experienced healthcare professionals who are dedicated to providing accurate diagnoses and evidence-based treatment plans. The virtual platform enables patients to tap into the expertise of doctors and specialists they might not have had access to otherwise. For instance, in Jengal, West Garo Hills, a woman confronted a dental emergency as fluid seeped from her lower teeth, resulting in acute pain and swelling. Left untreated, she was on the brink of developing the dangerous Ludwig’s Angina. With no local dental specialists available, the situation appeared bleak. Yet, the recent advent of telemedicine in the area proved to be a game-changer. Leveraging a live video link with a facial maxilla surgeon from the US, the local medical staff performed nerve blocks, drained the pus, and extracted three teeth, ensuring her rapid recovery. Such timely interventions are a testament to the power of technology and the TeleHealth platform’s ability to connect patients with global experts. Breaking Down Barriers to Healthcare Access Apollo Telehealth platform is democratizing healthcare by ensuring that individuals who lack easy access to medical facilities can still receive timely and expert medical attention. This not only improves individual health outcomes but also contributes to a healthier society at large. In the high-altitude region of Kaza, Apollo Telehealth’s telemedicine proved pivotal in safeguarding a mother and her newborn. At the Kaza Community Health Centre (CHC), the mother was identified with Abruptio Placentae. Following a C-section, she encountered hemorrhagic issues, and the premature infant exhibited signs like cyanosis. Given Kaza’s remote location, both received continuous telemedical oversight from Apollo experts for six days. Subsequently, they were relocated to Mission Hospital in Manali, where intensive care facilitated their recovery. Apollo Telehealth has established more than 700 centers, in 7 states.  This widespread presence has made quality healthcare more accessible to the masses.   On the future vision for Telehealth Dr Sangita Reddy, Joint Managing Director, Apollo, said “As the world continues to evolve, Apollo Telehealth remains at the forefront of healthcare innovation. By leveraging cutting-edge technology, data security measures, and a patient-centric approach, Apollo Telehealth is working towards creating a world where quality healthcare knows no bounds. Our commitment to extending quality healthcare to underserved communities has never been stronger. Over the next five to ten years, we foresee a quantum leap in healthcare access, facilitated by the integration of technology in every aspect of healthcare.”  Vikram Thaploo, CEO – Telehealth at Apollo Hospitals Enterprise Limited, said, “At Apollo Telehealth, our steadfast commitment to innovation has been a game-changer in the Indian healthcare sector. Our unique technological solutions and strategic partnerships with various governmental and corporate entities across the country have fundamentally reshaped the way patients access and experience medical care. We remain dedicated to expanding our services to reach more communities in need.”     Dr. K Ganapathy, Director, Apollo Telemedicine Networking Foundation (ATNF) and Apollo Telehealth, commended Apollo Telehealth’s tireless efforts in revolutionizing healthcare accessibility. He emphasized, “Telemedicine stands as a game changer in the Indian healthcare landscape. Apollo Telehealth’s transformative approach has bridged geographical gaps, ensuring top-notch medical services reach millions. This innovation is reshaping healthcare interactions, making quality care a universal right. The Apollo Telehealth platform’s impact is profound, reaching far and wide, and exemplifying the potential of technology in revolutionizing healthcare delivery. It’s not just a service; it’s a movement towards equitable and accessible healthcare for all.” Prof. Ravi P Mahajan, Director Critical Care Integration & Transformation, Apollo said “Apollo Telehealth is more than a healthcare service; it’s a lifeline reaching the most remote corners of our nation, ushering in a revolution where quality healthcare is just a click away. Our command centre of over 200 dedicated professionals handle thousands of cases daily, offering emergency and preventive healthcare services to individuals across the country. With a vision anchored in accessibility and clinical excellence, we are transforming the global healthcare standard, ensuring that distance no longer dictates the quality of healthcare one receives” Apollo Telehealth has played a transformative role in shaping the future of Telehealth in India. From introducing the first V-sat Tele-Emergency services in Himalayan regions, to bridging urban-rural disparities with the establishment of 350,000 touchpoints nationwide; these initiatives have profoundly enhanced healthcare accessibility and set a benchmark for integrated medical services across the country.

Apollo Hospitals has expanded partnership with Google Cloud to put healthcare in the hands of every Indian with Apollo’s digital platform, Apollo 24|7. Access to healthcare in India is challenging. 60% of hospitals, 75% of pharmacies, and 80% of doctors are in urban areas, leaving rural areas underserved. Technology presents an opportunity to improve access to healthcare for Indians countrywide. Built entirely on Google Cloud, Apollo 24|7 aims to deliver an omni-channel healthcare experience to people in India with telemedicine services, online doctor consultations, home delivery of medication, and improved clinician decision making. Key pillars of this partnership include: The development of an AI-powered clinical decision support system: Apollo 24|7 teams worked with Google Cloud to build a Clinical Intelligence Engine (CIE) using Google Cloud’s Vertex AI and generative AI (gen AI) models. This enables doctors to identify the next best action for patients during consultations. The CIE service leverages data from Apollo Hospitals and large language models (LLMs) from Google Cloud to create a proprietary solution in which all patient data is kept securely within the hospitals’ systems. The AskApollo patient-facing service: The platform also powers AskApollo, which helps patients with care navigation services. This first-of-its-kind service is built on top of Apollo’s CIE, which was developed using millions of real-world clinical data points gathered over 40 years of clinical excellence, and analyzed using Google Cloud’s advanced AI and machine learning technologies. Apollo Hospitals is also exploring the use of Med-PaLM 2, a LLM developed by Google that is trained on medical knowledge, and can answer medical questions and generate clinical text summaries. Providing a highly scalable, modernized cloud platform for Apollo 24|7: Apollo 24|7 is India’s largest and fastest growing health platform. In collaboration with Google Cloud partner, Searce, the Apollo 24|7 engineering teams deployed 78 microservices and 40+ databases on Google Cloud with zero downtime. The Apollo 24|7 data lake is also built on Google BigQuery, which brings together siloed data onto a single platform to help drive better decision making and clinical outcomes. Delivering authentic healthcare information on Search: Google has long worked with Apollo Hospitals to source authoritative and helpful health information for features on Google Search. Google’s deep AI capabilities combined with Apollo Hospital’s 40 years of experience in healthcare has the potential to make diagnosis more accessible, accurate, and affordable, and the two organizations are collaborating to find new ways to bring the best of health information to people in the future. “Access to timely and accurate health information is a real challenge in India, and our partnership with Google Cloud is poised to address it through various collaborations. Apollo’s expertise, data and hospital network will help shape a new era of precision and empathy in clinical decision making with medical grade generative AI, and AskApollo embodies the fusion of technology and compassion to revolutionize patient care,” said Ms. Shobana Kamineni, Vice Chairperson, Apollo Hospitals. “Generative AI has the transformative power to bring conversational medicine to clinicians and patients alike,” said Mr. Thomas Kurian, CEO, Google Cloud. “Our work with Apollo Hospitals will improve accessibility in healthcare, support clinicians and care teams, and drive better patient engagement—ultimately benefiting millions of Indians.” Google Cloud’s approach to data governance and privacy policies ensures customers retain control over their data. In healthcare settings, access and use of patient data is protected through the implementation of Google Cloud’s reliable infrastructure and secure data storage, along with each customer’s security, privacy controls, and processes. Google’s responsible approach to generative AI also means customers have access to monitor and review model outputs and leverage safety guardrails and model documentation to enable responsible use in a customer’s use case and context.

Apollo Hospitals has launched India’s first Comprehensive Connected Care programme; powered by Apollo’s Connected Care technology. Apollo has always been the pioneer in bringing the best and the most relevant technologies; and now, the national roll out of Apollo’s Comprehensive Connected Care services will offer clinical teams and nursing staff a holistic real-time view of the patient, across several care touchpoints along the patient journey such as emergency & ambulance, In-patient, post-surgery and home care. Launched earlier this year, Apollo’s Enhanced Connected Care programme saw a significant increase in the quality and safety benefits in turn improving overall patient experience. From 1 hour of nursing time saved per shift and reduced patient re-admissions to ICU by 30%, to detecting over 8-10 early warning critical alerts per 100 monitored beds and receiving almost Zero code blue (emergency) calls, an indication that if a patient needs immediate medical attention, this programme ensures no critical event is missed and patient safety is ensured at every step of the way. With over 1000 beds already equipped with the real time, rapid-response patient monitoring system across Apollo Hospitals in Hyderabad and Bangalore, the company plans to add another 2000 connected beds for all in-patients by the end of this year. In fact, Apollo’s Jayanagar & Hyderguda hospitals in Bangalore & Hyderabad, respectively currently provide Enhanced Connected Care coverage to all the in-patients, making them India’s first fully smart hospitals. Dr. Sangita Reddy, Joint Managing Director, Apollo Hospitals Group, said, “The whole paradigm of care delivery is changing, and the changes will only accelerate in the years ahead. The promise of having Comprehensive Connected Care technology has expanded the opportunities for how medical experts and patients interact, offering care at every touchpoint. As it advances, patients will experience better health outcomes and increased access to healthcare, clinicians are able to maximize their time, make more informed decisions and deliver continuous care. With this, we will continue to strive and build a connected health system that improves patient safety and enhances clinical outcomes, putting India on the global connected health map.” Prof. Ravi P Mahajan, Director Critical Care Integration & Transformation, Apollo Hospitals said, “Technology clearly makes a significant difference in improving patient outcomes and we at Apollo are committed to lead the best healthcare experience for all. Our Comprehensive Connected Care services represents a significant breakthrough in healthcare delivery as it enables us to provide the highest quality care experience to our patients across the care continuum. Our Enhanced Connected Care programme across select Apollo Hospitals has seen huge success with patients benefiting from this unique experience. Augmenting the quality of care and safety provided to patients, this continuous monitoring system enables us to monitor patients 24*7 thus ensuring significant improvement in patient’s condition management and health outcome. And, now we are all set to roll out these services across all our 70+ hospitals nationwide as we remain committed to bring patients the best healthcare in the world.” Backed by AI, this indigenously developed enhanced care technology is designed to continuously monitor and detect early signs of deterioration in a patient’s condition, enabling the care team to initiate corrective action sooner. Additionally, it enables nurses and doctors to monitor patient health remotely – from nurse stations, command centre or even from their mobiles. Based on the data provided from the system and the patient’s electronic medical record, doctors at Apollo’s regional command centres are equipped to assess the condition of the patient and recommend further support or treatment. In certain unforeseen cases, the system is capable of detecting ‘critical’ or ‘severely critical’ alerts, and notifying medical emergency teams to initiate immediate action.