Apollo Gleneagles Hospitals kicks off a healthy new partnership with the Cricket Association of Bengal. This is part of an innovative health partnership and is aimed at raising the profile of health care among players. Apollo will provide CAB players with all of their healthcare requirements. They will work closely with the team of dedicated doctors to ensure the players receive the best possible healthcare, in particular for recovery following injury. Speaking on the occasion Mr Sourav Ganguly, President, Cricket Association of Bengal said: “We are delighted to welcome Apollo Gleneagles Hospitals, Kolkata, on board with us for the next season. We are looking forward to developing a close relationship with them.” Dr. Rupali Basu, President & CEO, Eastern Region, Apollo Hospitals Group, India added: “We are absolutely delighted to become the Official Healthcare Partner of CAB. Our Sports Medicine team offers a complete range of services focusing on preventing and treating injury and illnesses and helping players reach their peak performances.” Apollo will be working with the team to help them maintain their health and fitness and ensure a successful season for both domestic and international matches. Emergency medical services will be provided which will include on site ambulance support in major national and international matches and IPL matches in Eden Gardens. First aid kits with all basic medicines will be provided to all 18 CAB clubs on a regular basis. From left Mr Sourav Ganguly, President, Cricket Association of Bengal, Dr Rupali Basu, President & CEO, Eastern Region, Apollo Hospitals Group, India, Mr Biswarup Dey, Treasurer, CAB & Mr Amiya Auddya, Vice-President, CAB and Representative of National AC  

Abdul Bashit aged 11 years, a resident of Pakistan and the eldest of 3 siblings, developed severe jaundice soon after birth. He was diagnosed to have Criggler Najjar Syndrome. This condition which is seen in 1 in a million babies causes a toxic form of bilirubin pigment to rise in the blood. To prevent complications like brain damage and hearing loss from this condition, Abdul underwent continuous phototherapy in the hospital during the first 2 months of his life. Thereafter, he was discharged to go home and continue the phototherapy treatment. As he grew older, his skin thickened and the light penetration decreased making it less effective. His jaundice would increase and he would miss school so that he could be under the lights as long as possible. All night, he would remain under the phototherapy unit, bearing the intense light and the heat for survival. The persistent yellow colour of his eyes and skin began to bother him. Since the only permanent treatment was a liver transplant, he was referred to Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals, Delhi. According to Dr Subash Gupta, Chief Liver Transplant Surgeon: “Abdul’s maternal uncle volunteered to be the donor and the family travelled to India for a liver transplant. He underwent a successful liver transplant on 30th October 2015 and was discharged on 17th November 2015. He will soon re-join school and lead a normal life. Apollo’s experience and expertise in this field has ensured that our five and ten year survival rates are comparable to best centers in the world. We will continue to offer this treatment to a largest cross section of the population in order to save lives”. According to, Dr Anupam Sibal, Group Medical Director, Apollo Hospitals Group and Senior Consultant, Paediatric Gastroenterologist and Hepatologist, Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals said, “With the new liver Abdul has received the enzyme he was not born with and his eyes are pearly white and he has finally bid adieu to his constant companion, the phototherapy unit. We have now performed more than 2300 liver transplants in patients not only from all parts of our country but also from more than 40 countries. We are privileged to have earned the trust of so many patients over the last 17 years, ever since we performed the first successful liver transplant in India in 1998. The family expressed a desire to meet Salman Khan and were delighted that Abdul could meet his hero Salman in Mumbai yesterday.” In the words of his mother, Razia Begum, “This story is the real experience of my child’s journey from birth to the age of 11 years. Our child was often called ‘SUNFLOWER OR GOLDEN BOY’ because of his Criglar Najar Syndrome that made him deep yellow. This was the journey which we didn’t opt for, didn’t wish for and didn’t aim for. Now we are happy that we have ended it on a happy note. A lot of emotions, feelings, sentiments, wishes have come our way. This transplant is a humanitarian effort which crossed the border for the promotion of dignity of human kind”. As they leave for their home country they had words of praise for Salman, the team and all the Indians who they came in touch with. Salmaan Khan meeting Abdul Bashit and mother with Dr Subash Gupta and Dr Anupam Sibal in Mumbai.  

The Apollo hosoitals group’s annual nursing conclave was themed ‘What got us here won’t get us there’ and witnessed key thought leaders from the government and healthcare fraternity deliberate, debate and discuss how India can address the healthcare skill gap & empower nursing fraternity to take higher clinical responsibilities & also work as an empowered team to improve patient outcome and reduce cost. The conclave was aimed to recognize and appreciate the crucial role played by nurses in healthcare sector and to defining a strategy for improvement of techniques and patient safety. There was special focus on imparting technical knowledge on the various emerging technologies in the field. Over 400 delegates from across the country participated in the Conclave. Annual Nursing Conclave of Apollo Hospital, is organized every year at different cities in order to bring together the talent of nurses, reflect on the nursing practices and provide a platform for the professionals to discuss current issues and developments in the area of healthcare. Nursing professionals of all age groups including Nurse Leaders, Managers, Front line Nurses, Nursing Operations Teams, Nursing Quality teams; Nurse Students and Teaching Faculty of training institutions of Nursing from all over the country attended the Conclave to share their knowledge and best practices to face the challenges of healthcare with high quality services. Dr Rupali Basu, President & CEO, Eastern Region, Apollo Hospitals Group, India, said “Apollo Hospitals has always strived hard to provide the highest level of training to nurses. Nurses are a vital part of the healthcare system. I believe that the deliberations to take place in this forum will pave way in bringing enhancement in overall functioning of the fraternity, not only at Apollo Hospitals’ facilities, but in the entire healthcare sector.” From left: Ms Lakshmi Bhattacharya, Director- Nursing, Apollo Gleneagles Hospitals, Kolkata, Dr. Anupam Sibal, Group Medical Director, Apollo Hospitals Group, India, Dr Rupali Basu, President & CEO, Eastern Region, Apollo Hospitals Group, India, actor Prosenjit Chatterjee and Rituparna Sengupta, Ms. Latika Das, Registrar, West Bengal Nursing Council and Capt. Usha Banerjee, Group Nursing Director, Apollo Hospitals Group, India, during the inauguration of 6th Annual Nursing Conclave, 2015.  

While still considered an innovative and highly skilled technique, robotic prostate removal surgery seems to have paved its place as a widespread prostate cancer treatment. Apollo Gleneagles Hospitals in their effort to increase awareness about the advantages of Robotic Surgery as a better treatment for various cancers, organised an interactive session with world renowned urologist Prof ProkarDasgupta who shared his expertise and insights on the advancement of robotics globally. A noted authority in academic urology for the past seven years within the Division of Immunology, Infection and Inflammatory Diseases (DIIID), Guy’s Hospital, King’s College London School of Medicine, Prof. ProkarDasgupta has pioneered modern robotic urological surgery in UK, following in the footsteps of John Wickham. His team is recognised internationally for the Guy’s robotic cystoprostatectomy technique for bladder cancer and is the leading European group amongst the International Robotic Cystectomy Consortium (IRCC). He conducted the first randomised controlled trial of robotic urology in collaboration with Johns Hopkins Hospital. A further innovation is the description of a minimally invasive method of delivering Botulinum toxin to refractory overactive bladders (Dasgupta technique). He is the Urological Foundation Mentor in Robotic Surgery. “Robotic surgery has a lot to offer to prostate cancer patients,” said Prof Dasgupta. “It is more precise, minimally invasive, heals faster and has the best clinical outcomes for treatment of these Cancers. In the hands of highly experienced surgeons, patients are seeing very positive results. I have seen over the past couple of years that the ability to treat and counsel patients have significantly improved with robotic surgery because of its accuracy and results it yields post-surgery. With a robotic prostatectomy, the benefits include a high prostate cancer cure rate and reduced urinary continence and impotence.”  

Apollo Gleneagles Hospitals, Kolkata launches the “Department of Sports Medicine” Built with a vision to improve athletes’ health and safety, Apollo Gleneagles Hospitals launched their Sports medicine unit, focused on implementing the best practices. Powered by the strengths of both knowledge and technology, Apollo Gleneagles Hospitals, is vastly improving efforts to protect the health and safety of not only the professional athletes but also of the general population. The primary role of the sports medicine physician in competitive sport is the prevention and treatment of injuries. Sportsmen are constantly exposed to injuries which can be career threatening. The team physician of Apollo Gleneagles Hospitals, who is constantly moving with the team, is the first person who detects and treats the injuries. The injured player is quickly assessed by an experienced orthopedic surgeon who is specialized in sports medicine and the relevant tests like ultrasound scan and MRI scan are done without any delay. Majority of the injuries are managed with physiotherapy and medicine. A fraction of them require surgery. Now that many people play sport in clubs, housing complexes, neighborhood fields and in office premises, they are getting exposed to situations where they can sustain the same injury as professional athletes. No one wants to be out of work and in bed due to an injury. The present sports medicine specialists also cater to the general population and can offer the same expertise to them as they do for the professional athletes. Speaking on the occasion, Dr Rupali Basu, President & CEO- Eastern Region, Apollo Hospitals Group, India, said, “We have a comprehensive sports medicine team comprising of team physicians, physiotherapists, surgeons, radiologists and nutritionists. Our sports medicine center has specialists who treat knee, ankle, hip, shoulder, hand and wrist injuries using the state of the art minimally invasive techniques (Arthroscopy). We have also introduced Platelet rich plasma (PRP) injections, which can be injected into injured ligaments, muscles and tendons, which can help in faster recovery.”  

Apollo Hospitals, Chennai was ranked the best multi-specialty private hospital in the country in 2014 and the hospital has continued to deliver best clinical outcomes and patient experience in the past year, holding its position in the 2015 survey as well. Apollo Hospitals was also ranked as the No. 1 multi-specialty hospital in Chennai & Kolkata by the survey, displaying our commitment in our endeavor to provide the best healthcare experience for our Patients The Week-Nielsen Best Hospitals Survey 2015, was conducted among Doctors from 19 cities between September and November 2015. This survey which is conducted year on year ranks multi-specialty hospitals on an all-India level, city level, specialty wise, medical education and research facilities & outputs.  

On the occasion of World Diabetes Day, Indraprastha Apollo Hospital, New Delhi conducted a walkathon to present a united stand against diabetes inside the hospital premises on November 14, 2015. The walk was followed by a complimentary diabetes screening test. Special Sugar screening offers were provided to individuals along with consultation services at low costs where people got their blood sugars tested. A team of doctors also provided information on how to spot early signs of diabetes. Sharing his experience, Vivek Malhotra, a participant said, “Being a diabetes patient, I realize the importance of early detection and management. Regular exercise keeps me going and my diabetes under control. This walk was a great event to raise awareness about diabetes.” The walkathon was a huge success as many patients and families participated. The participants praised the initiative as it was extremely informative.  

Reiterating its position as the leading transplant centre in the world by performing the most complex en-bloc combined heart and liver transplant, Apollo Hospitals, Chennai gave a new lease of life to a 30 year old from Tiruchengode, Tamil Nadu. This complex procedure which is considered to be technically demanding has never been attempted anywhere in Asia. The patient, Mr. Ponnar is a gold medalist who completed his Masters in Engineering. Unfortunately, his hopes and dream took a turn when he was diagnosed with liver failure and was advised a liver transplant. However, he was then diagnosed with a congenital condition called Ebsteins Anomaly – a failure of the development of the right side of the heart which was the cause of the liver failure, leaving him with no other option but a combined heart and liver transplant. It was at this juncture that Mr. Ponnar’s family approached the Apollo Hospitals Team, Chennai with a resolution to fight this till the end. Only a highly successful heart & liver transplant team, both working together as ONE team could home to accomplish an en-bloc combined heart and liver transplant. “The transplant teams had to take into consideration the risk of excessive bleeding in case of simultaneous transplant and the risk of accumulated toxins if the two organs were transplanted separately” recalls Dr. Paul Ramesh, Consultant Cardiothoracic Surgeon, Apollo Hospitals, Chennai. “I am extremely proud of Mr. Ponnar and his family who ignored all naysayers and whose trust in the clinical team at Apollo gave us the inspiration to carry out this procedure and mark a milestone in our medical history” added Dr. Ramesh. This feat would have been impossible without the undivided support and fantastic work of the Tamil Nadu Government and the Organ donation program in the state. “This outstanding achievement is a testament to the world-class abilities of our surgeons, physicians, technicians, nurses and other staff who are committed to serving our patients and providing them with healthcare of international standards” said Dr. Prathap C Reddy, Chairman & Founder, Apollo Hospitals. Today, Mr. Ponnar is a happy man leading a normal life and all set to conquer his hopes and dreams. Apollo Hospitals, Chennai – Heart Transplant & Liver Transplant Team Mr. Ponnar  

  A Joint initiative by Southern Railways and Apollo Hospitals, the Emergency Medical Care Centre, supported by an ACL (Advanced Cardiac Life Support) ambulance and a first of its kind battery charged ambulance buggy to ferry patients, will be equipped to stabilize emergency cases arising at the station The 24/7 free emergency medical centre at Chennai central station will cater to the needs of passengers in need of immediate medical aid. This Centre is equipped with facilities and expertise that can help stabilise patients before being referred to the nearest hospital, if needed, for advanced care as deemed fit by the doctor the Centre. Located adjacent to the main entrance of the station, next to the manager’s cabin, the 500 sq. feet full-fledged facility will be manned 24/7 by an emergency physician and 2 paramedic nurses working in three different shifts to ensure round the clock service. For the first time in the State, a fully battery operated ambulance buggy has been introduced to help ferry patients who might be in need of immediate medical attention from the various platforms to the Centre, and subsequently to the ACL Ambulance parked outside, in case the patient needs to be shifted to a hospital. The ACL ambulance, manned by one male nurse and an ambulance driver trained in first aid administration will be on Standby within the station limits. With Chennai Central being one of the arterial connectivity centre for Southern Railways and one of the busiest railway stations witnessing an average of 5 to 6 lakh footfalls in a day, this emergency medical centre will help passengers in need of critical medical aid at the most crucial time. Commenting on the initiative, Dr Prathap C Reddy, Chairman and Founder of Apollo Hospital said, “Every human life is priceless and as members of the medical fraternity we understand the importance of emergency care which needs to be administered as soon as possible. With this centre in place, we hope that we will be able to better serve the needs of passengers and help them benefit from the well-established healthcare facilities available in Chennai.

This support group saw participation from over 300 patients, friends and families with the aim of providing a forum for stroke survivors and caregivers to make friends, socialize and to exchange common challenges by sharing experiences and encouraging one another. The forum also hosted experts and doctors who spoke on identifying stroke signs at the earliest and timely intervention which could help save a lot of lives. Speaking on the occasion, Dr. P N Renjen, Senior Consultant, Neurology, Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals, New Delhi said, �The recovery of a patient from stroke is completely dependent on timely medical intervention. Unlike a heart attack, a stroke victim loses brain function and therefore is dependent on others to take him to an emergency centre. If provided specialised medical attention immediately or within the first half an hour the chances of recovery improve dramatically.� The doctors and patients discussed the importance of timely action after recognising the symptoms of stroke. The symptoms of stroke include facial and arm weakness, slurred speech, loss of vision etc. which if left untreated � may lead to disability in many cases. Dr. Renjen added, �When stroke strikes, every minute is precious and treatment within 4.5 hours can reduce disability.� The patients and families shared their stories and experiences that provided an informed atmosphere to share common concerns regarding stroke.

Forest guards play an indispensable role in protecting our forest habitats and species that WWF-India strives to conserve. Their job involves patrolling vast swathes of often-inhospitable terrain with bare minimum protection and hardly any access to emergency medical facilities in case of any severe mishaps or illnesses suffered while on-job. In an effort to address such concerns and provide immediate medical relief and support, WWF-India and Apollo Hospitals have announced a one-year partnership for these forest guards. The partnership will entail providing treatment and recovery support for frontline staff in case of a medical emergency, while on field. This support will be provided in 10 priority landscapes where WWF-India is actively working along with the state forest departments of Jammu & Kashmir, Sikkim, West Bengal, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Kerala. A partnership announcement by the two organizations covers superior quality medical treatment of patients on a first-come-first-serve basis. The services made available to the forest staff would also include air ambulance and other emergency medical rescue services. For other cases, WWF-India and the state forest departments involved will admit the sick/injured staff to the nearest Apollo Hospital or its franchisee at their own expense. This unique partnership will cover medical cases including (but not restricted to) grievous injury due to attacks by wild animals; fall from elevated areas (like hills or machans); accidents while patrolling in vehicles (collision, falling off etc); burns during fire-fighting operations; bullet/sharp weapon injuries inflicted by poachers; injuries inflicted by people during mob control when handling cases of human-wildlife conflict ; life threatening diseases like malaria, dengue etc; venomous bites/stings , and electrocution. The partnership represents a significant milestone in ensuring the welfare of the frontline staff. Appreciating the initiative, Mr. Samir Sinha, IFS, Chief Conservator of Forest and Field Director, Corbett Tiger Reserve, said, �Programs such as this are essential to the morale of the frontline staff, and for their continued welfare. We welcome this novelinitiative by WWF-India and Apollo Hospitals.” WWF-India aims to explore several such opportunities wherein processes and policies can be put in place to benefit forest staff across the country. “Our frontline personnel are an important part of the conservation family, and are willing to put their lives on line to protect our wildlife. Their efforts and sacrifice must not go unnoticed. We welcome this partnership with Apollo Hospitals which will boost their morale and empower them”, said Mr. Ravi Singh, WWF-India Secretary General and CEO. Ms Upasana Kamineni, Vice Chairperson , CSR at Apollo Hospitals Group said: �We at Apollo Hospitals group understand the perils that these frontline staff go through and we are always there to support them and are happy to help conserve our wildlife”.

The King of football, Pele spent time with the Apollo Gleneagles Cancer Hospital team (AGHL) on 12th &13th October, 2015 and responded to the queries on Sports injury and the facilities of Sports Medicine in Kolkata. He recounted the painful moments of his injuries during his time and congratulated Apollo Gleneagles Hospital, Kolkata on creating world class Sports Medicine facilities. Pele autographed on footballs for distribution amongst the children getting treatments suffering from Leukemia at Apollo Gleneagles Cancer Hospital, Kolkata. He inaugurated the Leukemia Ward Apollo Gleneagles Cancer Hospital on October 13th 2015 and inspired the team to continue the great work in preventing and curing Leukemia in Eastern India.