A team of highly qualified surgeons, nephrologists and support staff performed the surgery on 28 Sep 2016. The organ for the patient was retrieved from a ‘Brain dead’ patient at Pune and transported to Nashik under controlled environment, after being assigned by Zonal transplant coordination committee (ZTCC). To reduce the time of ischemia, traffic police, Nashik created a ‘Green corridor’, so that transportation time could be reduced and organ could reach the patient at the earliest, which is crucial in any successful transplant. The team consisted of transplant surgeons Dr Pravin Goverdhane, Dr Kishore Wani, Dr Abhay Singh Walia and Dr Nandan Vileker, Nephrologist Dr Mohan Patel and Dr Prakash Ugale, transplant coordinator Mr Bhushan Patil and other nursing and paramedical staff under supervision of Medical Superintendent, Dr Dilip Patil. The Patient, Dr Rohini Desle, who was on dialysis for a long time was kept under constant monitoring in the Transplant Unit and thereafter shifted to ward. She would not require dialysis any longer and can lead a normal life. Maj Gen (Dr) Vijay Saraswat, Chief Operating Officer, informed that Apollo hospitals have been the pioneer in driving transplant program in the private sector and have performed over 16,000 renal transplants and over 2600 Liver transplants across the country. Apollo hospital, Nashik, was granted permission for Renal Transplant in June 2016. This is the first hospital in Maharashtra, among the group to have this facility. He also stated that Apollo Hospitals will shortly start ‘Live related donor transplant’, and arrange awareness program for public along with ZTCC. He reiterated that Apollo Hospitals is thankful to Traffic Police department for creating green corridor and will work with them to improve on timings.

In a recent survey by a leading national magazine, Apollo Gleneagles Hospitals, Kolkata, has been recognised as one of the most trusted hospitals in the field of cardiac care. Continuing with this tradition of excellence, and on the occasion of World Heart Day, 2016, the hospital organised an awareness meet on the advancements and benefits of minimally invasive cardiac surgeries. In an interactive session organised at the hospital auditorium, Dr Sushan Mukhopadhyay, Director and Head, Department of Cardio Thoracic and Vascular Surgery, spoke at length about the different minimally invasive cardiac surgeries undertaken at Apollo Gleneagles Hospitals, Kolkata. In his presentation, he highlighted the various advancements in the field, and emphasized the benefits that patients stand to gain from these procedures. He said, “Minimally invasive cardiac surgeries allow us to ensure scar less operations, less pain, faster recovery, and overall better outcomes. As compared to the traditional methods, patients can look forward to a quicker return their normal routine, enhancing their productivity and quality of life.” Speaking on the occasion, Dr Rupali Basu, President and CEO ER, Apollo Hospitals Group, India, observed, “Cardio vascular diseases account for over a third of all deaths globally, and are the largest cause for mortality in India, resulting in almost two million lives lost every year. The Global Status on Non-Communicable Diseases Report (2011), further goes on to say that this trend is growing at an alarming pace. With such advanced minimally invasive surgical options like the Bentall surgery, LIMA-RIMA Y and Endoscopic Vein Harvesting, we have initiated major steps to combat and overcome this trend. As these procedures require a shorter hospital stay, we are also ensuring that the risk of potential infections is minimized, and that vital healthcare resources are made available to a much wider patient base.”  

Heart disease has been recognised as the world’s number one killer, and spares no race, age or sex. The ACC International Centres of Excellence are known for driving transformations in the care for and improvement of cardiac health by increasing awareness and promote the prevention of heart disease in ways that have a significant impact on overall patient health and wellbeing. They lead the provision of quality care and engage in vital research that helps ensure a healthy heart. As an ACC International Centre of Excellence, Apollo Gleneagles Hospitals will continue to participate in the ACC’s registry programs and will get access to ACC meetings and educational resources to support its commitment to providing superior cardiovascular care. Dr. Richard Chazal, President, ACC, observed, “International Centres of Excellence are committed to the improvement of heart health in their communities and seek ways to improve the care they provide. Participation in the National Cardiovascular Data Registry makes them part of a network of providers that share best practices to improve cardiovascular care. Together members of the global cardiovascular community can work most effectively to prevent and treat heart disease.” Prof. Dr. Rabin Chakraborty, Regional Director and Head, Apollo Gleneagles Heart Institutes, Kolkata, noted, “Our cardiology team, led by senior consultants, is well equipped to handle all heart-related emergencies round the clock. With three world-class cardiac catheterization labs, advanced electrophysiology and ICD-implantation capabilities, and state-of-the-art technologies like OCT and IVUS, the team delivers a care regimen that is comparable with some of the best facilities around the world.” Dr. Sushan Mukhopadhyay, Director and Head of the Department of Cardiothoracic & Vascular Surgery, Apollo Gleneagles Hospitals, Kolkata, said, “Our competence in heart care is without parallel in entire Eastern India. We undertake complex operations regularly, and have helped thousands of patients overcome complicated heart conditions requiring surgical correction. The adoption of minimally invasive procedures has also allowed us to deliver faster recovery periods along with better outcomes the twin goals of effective cardiac care.”  

Tomotherapy is the latest innovation in the high-end cancer treatment and only the second such equipment in the country. Chief Guest Shri K T Rama Rao, Minister for IT E&C, MAUD, Telangana, formally inaugurated the Tomotherapy Oncology Annexe at Apollo Cancer Institutes; Guests of Honour Shri Pullela Gopichand & Olympic Silver Medalist Ms P V Sindhu; Dr Prathap C Reddy, Chairman, Apollo Hospitals Group and Ms Sangita Reddy, Joint Managing Director, Apollo Hospitals Group, graced the occasion. The CT Scanner mounted Tomotherapy enables precise cancer treatment by tightly conforming the radiation dose delivery to the shape of the tumor, while being noninvasive and as painless as an x-ray. Its unique design helps in treating a wide range of cancers from routine to most complex and from head to toe. Cancers of the Breast, prostrate, lung, rectal, brain tumors & CRANIO-Spinal Radiotherapy can be treated with great precision and least side effects. Speaking on the occasion Dr Prathap C. Reddy said, “We are bringing the next generation cancer care within the reach of our people, in keeping with the promise of offering same level of healthcare here as anywhere in the world. Also, each one of us is unique and each patient has his unique signature disease, therefore only personalized treatment will give better cure and this is where Tomotherapy will make the difference”. This all-in-one system with innovative TomoHelical and TomoDirect brings in the manoeuvrability to reach the radiation delivery in more controlled and with greater accuracy even in unreachable areas with least harm to the healthy tissue. Multiple tumors could also be treated simultaneously with this, ensuring greater comfort for patients and reduced treatment time. One of the big advantages the treating doctor gets is the ability to asses, customize, monitor and maintain the treatment according to the patient’s needs, during future sessions based on the images from the previous sessions.

Apollo Hospitals group won the HIMSS – Elsevier Outstanding ICT Innovation Award for Asia Pacific as part of the HIMSS Asia Pacific 2016 Conference and Exhibition, held in Bangkok. A global platform to recognize outstanding achievements and innovations in the use of health information and technology to advance patient care and safety, the HIMSS-Elsevier Digital Healthcare Awards was established in 2013 and is now held annually across Asia Pacific, the Middle East and Europe. Apollo Hospitals’ winning submission proved that the innovative and effective use of technology does not require huge financial outlays or long implementation downtime. The hospital’s development of a digital dietary module to automate their nutrition care process for patients resulted in higher productivity and cost savings. The total downtime was two hours on a weekend and the project only required a small investment. Speaking on the occasion, Ms. Sangita Reddy, Joint Managing Director, Apollo Hospitals said, “Recognition is a great motivator and receiving the HIMSS-Elsevier Outstanding ICT Innovation Award for Asia Pacific 2016 is a shot in the arm in our journey of digital transformation. At Apollo Hospitals, our ethos has been to combine the best of information and medical technologies to deliver best in class solutions architected to be patient centric, user friendly and transform work processes. We are firmly committed to democratizing access to healthcare and this motto keeps Apollo Hospitals at the forefront of innovation. Furthermore, I laud the efforts of institutional partners such as HIMSS Elsevier who help hasten our pace of innovation and guide us in effective adoptions of new technologies”. Stephen Lieber, President and CEO of HIMSS, said, “The HIMSS-Elsevier Digital Healthcare Awards aims to showcase present technologies and innovations that are proven and are really in use. This platform should get people thinking about how to adopt these projects, what are some key examples out there for them to emulate in order to solve specific issues such as chronic patient cases, telehealth challenges, ageing and so on. We are glad that year after year, these submissions lead the way in innovative breakthroughs to improve care delivery through technologies.” Michelle Troseth, RN, Chief Professional Practice Officer, Elsevier Clinical Solutions added, “These case studies show that with the right team and the right technologies, real improvements to patient care and safety can be made. Better patient engagement, reduced waiting time and hospital stay lengths, greater accuracy with medication prescription, diagnosis and evidence-based care are benefits that are being realized right now across APAC. Elsevier is proud to be a part of this progressive healthcare landscape through our solutions as well as through this platform of celebration and recognition.” The applicants were judged by a panel of five judges: John Daniels, Global Vice President, Healthcare Advisory Services Group, HIMSS Analytics, USA; Michelle Troseth, RN, Chief Professional Practice Officer, Elsevier Clinical Solutions, USA; Dr. Mubbashir Iftikhar, Digital Transformation In charge, KPJ Healthcare Bhd, Malaysia; Dr. Polawat Witoolkollachit, Director of Information Technology and Communication, Ministry of Public Health, Thailand and Dr. Monica Trujillo, Executive General Manager, Clinical and Consumer Engagement and Clinical Governance, and Chief Clinical Information Officer, Australian Digital Health Agency.  

The largest integrated healthcare provider group in Asia, Apollo Hospitals, has been offering the latest in cancer care to its patients ever since its inception more than three decades ago. Thousands of patients who have benefitted from the superior technology and unmatched clinical skills vouch for the outstanding outcomes they have experienced. Cancer is rapidly assuming epidemic proportions and is amongst the top three killers in the world. Incidence of cancer is unusually high in India and we are fast approaching the dubious positioning of being the Global Cancer Capital. As a leader in healthcare in this part of the world, Apollo Hospitals has decided to take the fight to cancer. Apollo Hospitals, has now converted the cancer management infrastructure into an independent functional entity, Apollo Cancer Institutes. Apart from creating independent institutes, Apollo has networked these institutes to leverage the strengths of all its specialists and the technology across the country. Apollo Cancer Institutes in Chennai, Hyderabad, New Delhi, Kolkata, Ahmedabad, Bilaspur, Bengaluru and Madurai are part of this new initiative. All of them work on a common platform using standardized protocols ensuring uniform standards of care for every patient walking into the Apollo ecosystem. PRECISION ONCOLOGY: With advances in technology and the understanding of cancer, management of cancer has moved from the tissue level to the molecular level. This makes cancer management more precise and personalized. The traditional method of treating the same type of cancer with the same drug is a thing of the past. Today with the molecular understanding of tumor cells and availability of Chemo sensitivity techniques, the same type of cancer in different individuals is treated with different drugs. Similarly, newer surgical techniques using minimally invasive (Robotic Surgery) technology makes excision of tumors more precise and accurate. Our Oncologists have begun to focus on specific organs and this organ specific skill and expertise is producing results par excellence. New radiation techniques like True beam, Novalis Tx, Tomotherapy and Proton Therapy (being installed soon) add to the armamentarium of our oncologist in delivering radiation to the cancerous cells sparing the surrounding normal cells. All these techniques apart from enhancing precision and personalizing treatment also bring down the complication rates, shorten treatment duration and deliver far better results. Precision oncology at Apollo Cancer Institutes, gives hope to every patient and delivers care that achieves the goal of conquering cancer. Cancer is a complex disease and management decisions are also complex. To demystify cancer management decisions our specialists meet as teams (Tumor Boards) and develop the most optimal treatment protocol for every patient. Similar Group wide tumor boards are also functional for second opinion services for complicated situations. Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Prathap C Reddy, Chairman, Apollo Group of Hospitals, while announcing Precision Oncology at Apollo Cancer Institutes, said, “Cancer has been a dreaded disease and is threatening to harm millions of individuals in the community. It is estimated that over a million deaths occur due to cancer in India every year and this rate is skyrocketing. We cannot let this cancer epidemic go on. We are determined to fight it and win the fight over cancer. Gone are the days of ‘one size fits all’. Cancer care has moved into the era of personalized medicine where individual therapies are tailored to fit the needs of individual patients. Precision Oncology at Apollo Cancer Institutes delivers this personalized care to every patient. We have taken up the challenge of making cancer history, not because it is easy, but because it is difficult and still a distinct possibility today.”  

Apollo Gleneagles Hospitals, Kolkata, the leader in the provision of cutting-edge medical services in Eastern India, successfully performed a cadaver liver transplant at its state-of-the-art Institute of Gastro sciences. The donor, 53 year old Mr. Samar Chakraborty, had been brought to Apollo Gleneagles Hospitals, Kolkata on Tuesday, 26 July, 2016, where he was declared ‘brain dead’ by a panel comprising of doctors from the hospital and the Department of Health, Government of West Bengal. His family agreed to multi-organ donation, and after the completion of the necessary formalities, his liver and corneas were harvested for transplantation. Under the able guidance of Dr Mahesh Kumar Goenka, Gastroenterologist and Director, Institute of Gastrosciences, Apollo Gleneagles Hospitals, Kolkata, and his team, the liver was transplanted to 46 year old Ms. Madhuri Saha, a patient of several liver ailments who had been advised to undergo a transplant at the earliest. Dr Goenka observed, “We have successfully harvested and transplanted the liver through a surgical procedure that took about 10 hours. The recipient is doing fine till now, and would need to remain under observation and treatment for about a fortnight before we can confirm the prognosis. If the results are found to be as expected, this will be the first instance of a successful cadaver liver transplant in entire Eastern India.”  

Apollo Hospitals, Ahmedabad becomes the first multispecialty care hospital in Gujarat to receive certification for quality standards from the Joint Commission International (JCI), USA. Speaking on occasion, Dr. Rajesh Kamran, CEO Apollo Hospitals, Ahmedabad said, “We are glad to announce that Apollo Hospitals, Ahmedabad has received the Joint Commission International’s Gold Seal of Approval for Hospital Accreditation by demonstrating continuous compliance with internationally recognized standards. The Gold Seal of Approval is a symbol of quality that reflects an organisation’s commitment to providing safe and effective patient care. The accreditation follows a rigorous onsite evaluation by an international surveyor team of healthcare experts. The accreditation process requires a hospital to comply with more than 1,300 measurable standards.” Dr. Mahesh Patel, Quality In charge of Apollo Hospitals, Ahmedabad said, “Apollo Hospitals underwent a rigorous onsite survey in June 2016. During the survey, a team of Joint Commission International expert surveyors evaluated compliance with the hospitals standards related to diverse areas including the International patient safety goals, patient assessment and care, anaesthesia, surgical care and various other critical aspects.”  

Apollo Gleneagles Hospitals, Kolkata, is the acknowledged leader in the provision of state-of-the-art medical services in Eastern India. The pioneer of several cutting-edge treatment and care options, the hospital is happy to announce the launch of the Back Pain Clinic – organized especially to address the health challenges associated with a progressively sedentary lifestyle. With the emergence of an increasingly deskbound daily routine, bereft of regular physical activity and exercises, back pain has assumed almost epidemic proportions in the country. Incorrect posture, excess body weight, improper lifting and a range of diseases and psychological conditions are some of the common causes behind this common complaint, known to affect about 80 per cent of all adults at some point their lifetime. A proper evaluation and diagnosis of the underlying cause, followed by medications, physical therapy and in some case, surgery, therefore constitutes an effective treatment regimen for back aches. The Back Pain Clinic at Apollo Gleneagles Hospitals, Kolkata, brings together a well-trained and experienced team of multidisciplinary specialists under one roof. Staffed by expert care givers and supported by capable personnel and world-class facilities, the clinic delivers and ensures the best outcomes for patients and their families. Speaking on the occasion, Dr Rupali Basu, President and CEO ER, Apollo Hospitals Group, India, observed, “At Apollo Gleneagles Hospitals, Kolkata, we are committed towards ensuring the health of the nation. With the number of those suffering from different types of back pain registering an exceptional growth in recent times, our specialized clinic is a positive step in the right direction. We will continue to deliver on more such initiatives, which will only help us transform the entire healthcare paradigm of the country.”  

On the occasion of National Doctors’ Day, Dr. Yash Gulati, Orthopaedic Surgeon and Dr. Subhash Gupta, Liver Transplant Surgeon, Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals, New Delhi, have been conferred with Dr. B.C. Roy National Award by the President of India at Rashtrapati Bhawan. Every year, all over India about 9-10 chosen doctors are conferred with this award for their exemplary contribution to the society. Dr. Yash Gulati, a Senior Consultant at Indraprastha Apollo Hospital, New Delhi for last 18 years is a renowned name in the field of Orthopaedics and has multiple innovations to his name. He has been selected in the category of Socio Medical Relief for the year 2008. Dr. Gulati performed live demonstration of Knee Replacement and Hip Replacement Surgery in The Golden Jubilee Conference of Indonesian Orthopaedic Association at Solo, Indonesia and many other centres in India. He is the pioneer to start Gyroscope based Pin Less Navigation for knee replacement in India which is useful in complex cases. He has the largest number of cases in India for Total Hip Replacement in Sickle Cell Disease. A Padma Shri awardee by President of India in 2009, Dr. Gulati operated on a large number of patients from various countries. Dr. Subhash Gupta, is the Chief liver transplant/hepato-pancreato-biliary surgeon and the Director of the Centre of Liver and Biliary Sciences at Indraprastha Apollo Hospital, New Delhi. He has been selected in the category of Recognition of the Best Talents in encouraging the development of specialties in different branches in Medicine for the year 2010. He is a national talent scholar who has completed his undergraduate degree and Masters in General surgery from All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi and has specialized in surgical gastroenterology in 1989. He has been honored with the position of Professor in Surgery by Apollo Health and Educational Foundation. The Institute of Post Graduate Education and Medical Research, Kolkata has honored him with the position of Professor of Liver Transplantation. He is the recipient of a Gold Medal by the Delhi Medical Association in 2005. In 2012, he was awarded the Vishist Chikitsak Rattan by Delhi Medical Association. Awardees with the Honorable President Dr. Yash Gulati, Orthopaedic Surgeon receiving the award Dr. Subhash Gupta, Liver Transplant Surgeon, receiving the award    

Health Care Associated Infections (HCAI) and communicable diseases are a great burden on the economy of nations, the functioning of healthcare institutions and health state of individuals across the world. Of every 100 hospitalized patients at any given time, 7 in developed and 10 in developing countries will acquire at least one health care-associated infection. However preventable infections should be prevented. Hand sanitization is not only the cheapest but also the most effective way of preventing communicable diseases, in and outside the hospital. Every year 5th May is celebrated as World Hand Hygiene Day to create awareness about the importance of hand hygiene in prevention of spread of communicable diseases. This also lessens the burden of antimicrobial resistance. It is an age old saying that ‘prevention is better than cure’. Our culture and civilization also has advocated personal and hand hygiene, for thousands of years. We have always been striving to give our patients, their attendants, our employees , staff members, our visitors and vendors associated with us and the community we serve, a safer environment – to get healed quickly, to work healthy and to live healthy. On 5th May 2016, we culminated a mission to accomplish creating a Guinness World Record in hand sanitization relay, under the banner of ‘Clean Hands, Healing Hands’. This endeavour engaged 1711 participants working at Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals, Delhi, involved in health care related activity at this institution. The aim was to create cascading awareness on importance of hand hygiene for enhancing patient and health care personnel’s safety, across the globe. We formed a human chain relay, each following similar steps in sanitizing their hands with a commercially available alcohol gel sanitizer, following the rules and regulations as per Guinness World Record guidelines, strictly and independently witnessed by men of prestige and stewarded by 36 independent stewards not associated with the hospital. About 80 litres of sanitizer were used in preparation and final execution of the event. Hectic man-hours and man-days were spent in planning, preparation and smooth execution for this mass exercise. We were informed of our success at the record holding title by the Records management Team at the Guinness World Records, on July 1st 2016, and to quote them: “We are thrilled to inform you that your application for ‘Most Participants in a Hand Sanitising Relay’ has been successful and you are now a Guinness World Record Title Holder!”  

The Best Brands Initiative of The Economic Times commenced in the year 2014. With successful editions in the past two years, ET launched its edition of the Best Healthcare Brands. An extensive survey was conducted in association with MRSS and healthcare brands were graded after considering the parameters of innovation, brand value, brand recall, consumer satisfaction, customer service and quality. Apollo Hospitals was recognized under the Best Multi-Specialty Hospital category and Apollo Life, under the Health and Wellness category at the awards for the year 2016. Ms. Upasana Kamineni with the Apollo Hospitals Team at the Economic Times Award ceremony