Apollo Hospitals Group has released its annual Health of the Nation report that deep dives into the prevalence and growth of NCDs and highlights the importance of the right preventive healthcare measures to ensure India stays healthy. Dr Prathap C. Reddy, Founder & Chairman, Apollo Hospitals Group, stated that “Preventive healthcare needs to become a national priority. Over the past 3 decades, non-communicable diseases have become the leading cause of death and suffering, contributing to 65% of deaths in India. NCDs affect not just health, but also productivity and economic growth. The estimated economic burden on India is expected be about $4.8 trillion by 2030. As the youngest and fastest growing major economy in the world, the health of our nation is a critical indicator of our future, and the health of our people will determine how effectively we live up to our full potential. What we need is a proactive and highly defined strategy to minimize the impact of NCDs. And the best solution lies in prevention.” The increasing trend for NCDs and a significant rise in early risk factors The rise in preventive screenings has also led to an increase in the diagnosis of early risk factors like Obesity and Dyslipidemia (cholesterol irregularities) among Indians across age groups. These are indication of the potential onset of chronic conditions like diabetes and hypertension and a wake-up call for individuals to make early shifts in their lifestyle behavior’s. There is a 50% increase in the prevalence of Obesity among Indians between 2019 and 2022. Obesity has seen an uptick in diagnosis in those less than 45 years of age by 43% and by 60% in people over the age of 45. Dyslipidemia or Cholesterol irregularities has seen an 18% increase in prevalence among Indians between 2019 and 2022. This is also fuelled by a significant increase in its prevalence among those over 45 years of age by more than 35% Along with these early risk factors, we also see a rise in the prevalence of conditions like Diabetes and Hypertension. Diabetes and Hypertension diagnosis have seen an 8% and 11% increase respectively between 2019-22 There is also an increasing risk of Hypertension amongst Indians over 45 years, its prevalence in diagnosis having increased from 14% to 16% in the last 3 years. Chronic stress and anxiety increase the risk of incidence of hypertension by 1.5X and diabetes by up to 2X. Men with chronic stress have double the risk of incidence of diabetes than women. We administered the PHQ9 Depression Questionnaire for about 2000 people with Type 2 Diabetes at Apollo Hospitals to understand their Mind Health status. Our analysis showed that with every one unit increase in age and BMI, PHQ9 the depression score also increases. About 50% had some form depression and Diabetes along with any weight related comorbidity , an indicator to screen for depression. The report also puts the spotlight on the importance of getting more frequent or extended health tests for conditions that are prevalent in families The report finds that Diabetes is prevalent in 1 in 3 people with a history of the condition in their family. Healthy sleep is an important indicator of overall health. In one study with 20,000 people, 47% have sleep problems and 52% have impairments in their mind health state, and 1 in 3 have both issues. 2 out of 3 individuals do not have an optimal gap between dinner and bedtime, which is critical for good quality sleep. It is either less than 1 hour or more than 2 hours, both scenarios leading to sub optimal sleep quality. Impaired metabolism is also closely linked with digestive irregularities, such as gas/bloating, heaviness post-meal, burning sensation, belch/burp. The analysis found that 64% of people had digestive irregularities, going up to 81% amongst diabetics. Many ‘Indias’ in one India Our diversity in lifestyle has led to the emergence of different NCD trends across regions, likely impacted by our regional diet preferences. While liver diseases saw maximum prevalence in East (at 50%), its lowest impact relatively is in the South (28%) West has seen the least relatively the lowest prevalence of diabetes (15%) while South has the highest (27%) Obesity trends have been similar across regions, ranging between 22-24% Dyslipidemia (cholesterol) has the highest prevalence across all regions, with North seeing the most (48%), followed by West (41%), East (39%) and then South (37%). Power of prevention The silent epidemic of NCDs is behind 40% of all hospital stays. While there is an increase in Indians taking preventive screenings, these are still largely symptom led. Regular and comprehensive health checks, starting at a young age, can significantly reduce mortality rates, disease incidence as well as the frequency of hospital visits through our lifespan. There is also a need to reimagine preventive health assessments and design them to be more suitable to the Indian population. For instance: The median age of breast cancer diagnosis from mammograms done at Apollo in the last year was 54-57 years; lower than that seen in mature markets (where the median age of detection is 62-65 years). This suggests an earlier onset of disease in Indian women, warranting annual screening for women from 40 years onwards. According to clinically published sources, early diagnosis through preventive checks of breast cancer can reduce mortality rates by up to 30%. Undetected sleep disorders often lead to chronic health conditions due to late diagnosis and oversight by the healthcare systems Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is known to increase the risk of heart problems, and is often screened only in the obese (BMI > 30) and with neck circumference > 40cm Apollo’s study of people with Type 2 Diabetes suggests that intermediate to high risk of OSA occurs even at a lower BMI (26) in the population screened, with a majority (91%) having a neck circumference < 40cm, thus highlighting the need to screen for OSA rigorously, irrespective of the BMI, especially for high-risk cohorts like patients with Diabetes. Enhanced ‘ProHealth’ by Apollo In a bid to strengthen the preventive healthcare ecosystem, Apollo has launched an enhanced ProHealth, India’s most individualized preventive health program that brings together the power of AI to help individuals stay ahead of potential NCDs. Combined with Apollo’s pioneering experience of 40 years, the healthcare group has developed new technologies based on AI and ML for predicting risk scores and developing structured lifestyle programs with new models of care that lead to improved clinical outcomes. What differentiates ProHealth: ProHealth is a 100% doctor designed health program It creates a first-of-its-kind health profile that determines the areas of concerns and custom designs a unique health check for every individual It integrates predictive health metrics through a sophisticated AI engine to determine potential areas of prevention In addition to the results, every individual also has access to health mentors to transform their lifestyle and make the program truly preventive in every sense Technology is transforming the approach for dealing with health risks and enabling early detection, and therefore must be integrated in preventive screenings. With a firm belief that AI and big data will play a key role in predicting risks and delivering personalised health solutions, Apollo’s ProHealth today is India’s most individualized preventive health program. Apollo also strongly believes that a laundry list of tests is not an effective solution to get to the root of the problem. For instance, there is a clear data-driven correlation between diabetes-obstructive sleep apnea-heart problems OR weight related comorbidities & depression, however generic health checks are unable to deduce these. The need of the hour is true personalization and prediction, which forms the foundation of Apollo ProHealth. Additionally, by offering convenient access to health mentors as a part of ProHealth, every individual is empowered to take charge of their own health and create a long-term and permanent impact in the battle over NCDs. Apollo ProHealth is backed by a predictive algorithm that captures one’s health status, predicts potential health risks and individualizes every health check. A personal health risk assessment is digitally available to every individual, post which they can visit the nearest Apollo facility to undergo the set of customized tests recommended for them. About Health of the Nation Report The Health of the Nation by Apollo gives insights into the prevalence and risk factors of NCDs, emphasizing hotspots, that is, areas of elevated disease burden across the country. The report derives from data based on people Apollo has engaged with through its system. The objective of the report is to put in place approaches to improve disease prevention, increase the accuracy of diagnoses and to create a more personalized and patient-centric treatment approach. Over 500,000 health checks have been studied over the past 3 years to arrive at the findings. Majority of the data shared through the Health of the Nation is based completely on Apollo’s de-identified hospital information systems and EMR, AyurVAID and other studies as part of the Apollo Group.

Apollo Hospitals has been at the forefront of patient care in India and has led the organ transplant revolution in healthcare. Apollo Hospitals Group has successfully completed 500 pediatric liver transplants. The Apollo Transplant program is one of the world’s largest and most comprehensive transplant programs, offering a host of state-of-the-art services which include Management of Liver Disease, Management of Kidney Disease, Liver and Kidney Transplantation, Heart and Lung Transplantation, Intestinal, Pancreas and GI Transplant Surgeries and Pediatric Transplant Services. With 90% success rates, The Apollo Liver Transplant program is a beacon of quality and hope for patients from across the world. Dr. Prathap C Reddy, Founder Chairman, Apollo Hospitals Group, New Delhi, said, “India is emerging as a world leader in organ transplantation. Organ transplantation is a true act of human kindness and an extraordinary medical achievement. At Apollo Hospitals, we are proud to have established one of the world’s leading transplant programs, with world-class infrastructure, cutting-edge technology and the finest medical expertise. We remain committed to providing the best possible care and outcomes for our patients, and to advancing the frontiers of medical science in the field of transplantation. This milestone further reflects our commitment to advancing pediatric liver transplantation and providing the best possible care to our patients. I am immensely heartened at what this program has been able to achieve in a span of two decades. From a time when children with end stage liver disease didn’t have any care possibilities, to where we are today – marking 500 transplants in children whose lives have been transformed.” Apollo Hospitals receives liver transplant patients from over 50 countries. Patients from several countries including Philippines, Indonesia, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, Jordan, Pakistan, Kenya, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Sudan, Tanzania, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, CIS, Myanmar and many other have found transformational and affordable solutions in India through Apollo. A patient can undergo liver transplant surgery in India at an affordable cost with excellent outcomes. Dr. Anupam Sibal, Group Medical Director and Senior Pediatric Gastroenterologist, at Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals, said, “We are proud to have reached this important milestone and are honoured to have been able to help so many children and families in need. Over the years several challenges have been overcome – transplants in small babies weighing as little as 4 kgs, transplants in babies and children with serious medical conditions other than liver failure, ABO incompatible transplants when the family does not have a blood group compatible donor. We are so happy that our 500th patient is a baby girl and nearly 45% of our patients are now girls. Our dedicated team of doctors, nurses, and support staff have worked tirelessly to provide the highest level of care and support to our patients and their families. Their dedication, hard work, and commitment to excellence have made it possible for us to reach this milestone. From the time we performed the first successful liver transplant in India in 1998, the Apollo Transplant Program has performed more than 4100 liver transplants in children and adults.” Pediatric liver transplants are complex and challenging procedures that require high level of skill and expertise. The medical team at Apollo Hospitals Group has some of the most experienced surgeons, nurses, and support staff in the field working together. Dr. Neerav Goyal, Senior Consultant, Liver Transplant, Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals, New Delhi, said “We have unmatched technical skills of our highly specialized surgeons and physicians, an infrastructure that is comparable with the best in the world and above all the faith of our patients that we have nurtured over time. We are now able to perform the most complex of liver transplants in babies where the size of the blood vessels is as small as 3-4 mm. Pediatric liver transplantation requires a multidisciplinary team and success requires harmonization between all the team members. The Apollo Liver Transplant Program is now consistently performing close to 50 pediatric liver transplants a year, a number only a handful of centres in the world have achieved”. Apollo Transplant program is well-founded with high-end equipment and state-of-the-art infrastructure that is delivered with the highest possible quality by an eminent pool of globally renowned Transplant Surgeons, Nephrologists, Gastroenterologists, Pediatric Gastroenterologists, Pediatric Surgeons, Anesthetists, Intensivists and Physicians. Over the past decade, the program has built a reputation of trust and reliance with the highest quality of care delivered and outcomes unmatched the world over. Apollo’s 500th Pediatric Liver Patient Story – Baby Prisha In the heartland of Bihar, in a small town Jahanabad, a young middle-class couple joyously and reverently named their first-born daughter “Prisha”, literally meaning God’s gift. A teacher husband and homemaker wife, they made a simplistic, humble, undemanding couple looking forward to their journey as parents. The first few weeks were blissful but then they realized Prisha contracted jaundice. An arduous trail from one doctor to another led to complete despair and anguish when they were told she had a disease that was a death sentence, biliary atresia that would cause her liver to fail. They weren’t ready to give up and stepped beyond their humble reach to contact top specialists till they realized that a liver transplant would be lifesaving, and brought her to Apollo at about 6 months of age. Family and friends had tried to discourage them. The challenges were indeed multiple but were overcome by the family’s resolve and treating team’s commitment. A feeding tube was put in through her nose to supplement feeds and achieve nutritional rehabilitation for the transplant, while preparations were being made. Her mother donated a part of her liver and Baby Prisha recovered beautifully after a successful liver transplant. Baby Prisha weighed only 4.6 kgs at the time of the transplant

A 35-year-old female patient came to Apollo Hospitals, Nashik complaining of abdominal pain, difficulty in urinating and diarrhoea. Dr Praveen Goverdhane , Consultant Urologist examined the patient and conducted diagnostic tests. The reports revealed that patient was having many tumors in his abdomen. These tumours were attached to the amniotic sac, stomach and large intestine. On further evaluation, it was found that these tumours were cancerous. The albumin factor was decreasing and the patient needed cytoreductive surgery on an urgent basis. This very difficult and complicated surgery lasted for about 17 hours and the doctors managed to save the patient. Dr Govardhane said, “This was a very difficult and complex surgery and an experienced team of surgeons were required for the same. Before every such surgery, the patient’s fitness is tested. During this surgery, the patient’s blood was reserved during the operation. At the beginning of the surgery, a telescope was placed in the stomach with the help of which the various tumours were located and then removed.” Onco-Surgeon Dr Ajay Jadhav said, that during this operation, the patient had to be given four bags of blood. Post-surgery, the patient was managed in the ICU under the care of Dr Praveen Tajne, Pulmonologist at Apollo Hospitals, Nashik for his lung issues. Patient was discharged home after 25 days. Dr. Jadhav added that the entire operation took 17 hours and doctors were able to successfully remove all the tumours. If the cancer tumor is diagnosed early, then cancer can be cured. Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Ajit Jha, Unit Head of Apollo Hospitals, Nashik said, “Apollo Hospitals, Nashik has state-of-the-art facilities, team of experienced doctors, trained nursing staff and physiotherapy team, all available at on place. Dr. Praveen Govardhane, Cancer Surgeon Dr. Ajay Jadhav, Dr Ambarish Chatterjee, Anesthesiologists Dr Bhupesh Parate and Dr Chetan Bhadare were highly appreciated for successfully performing a very difficult and complicated surgery with great patience and skill, thus proving that patients from North Maharashtra need not travel to other big cities for state of art medical treatment.

Apollo Hospital, Nashik has successfully performed 50 joint replacement surgeries within a span of two months using the Novo Technique. Explaining in detail about the technique, Dr. Jayesh Sonje, Orthopaedic and Joint Replacement Surgeon at Apollo Hospitals, Nashik said, “The Novo Technique surgery is performed on patients who need joint replacement of the knee or hip. In this surgery, a small incision of only about 15 cm is required. The entire procedure can be completed within 25 to 30 minutes. The Novo Technique has several advantages. Patients who undergo surgery through this technique recover very quickly. Joint replacement surgery provides relief from excruciating knee or hip pain and allows senior citizens to perform daily activities like exercise, walking and others as before. Thus, they no longer need to be dependent on anyone.” Providing information about knee pain and joint transplant, Dr. Anil Jadhav, Orthopaedic Surgeon at Apollo Hospitals, Nashik said, “Our joints wear out with age. This is not a disease, but a natural change that occurs in our body due to aging. The main reasons for this are obesity, ageing and brittleness of the bones. There is a 1.5 centimetre cartilage cushion at the knee joint and this cushion wears off over time. When the wear and tear is excessive, the knee pain becomes unbearable. When the knee pad is completely damaged, a joint replacement is required. In joint replacement surgery, the movement of the knee is restored by placing an artificial joint covering over the damaged part”. Mr. Ajit Jha, Unit Head of Apollo Hospitals, Nashik said that the results of joint replacement surgery performed using Novo Technique are very good and patients not just from North Maharashtra, but also from Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, and Madhya Pradesh are now coming to Apollo Hospitals, Nashik for joint replacement surgery. The patients benefit a lot due to the latest technology and the teamwork of our experienced specialists available at Apollo Hospitals, Nashik.

Dr Vijayant Devenraj, Senior CTVS Consultant at the Apollomedics Super Specialty Hospital, Lucknow and his team have recently performed a minimal invasive procedure (TEVAR- Thoracic EndoVascular Aortic Repair) to save the life of a 52-year-old man from Lucknow suffering with potentially life threatening (impending rupture) huge thoracic aortic aneurysm, a rare condition. The doctors explained that aortic aneurysm is a pathological balloon like bulge in the aorta (the main artery that carries blood from heart to the rest of the body). The 52-year-old Ramoram, was suffering with a thoracic aortic aneurysm since 2020 and had experienced pain in his chest, but due to the COVID-19 pandemic, had delayed his treatment. Recently, when he experienced unbearable pain in his chest and back, he decided to visit the doctors at (Emergency department) of Apollomedics Super Specialty Hospital, Lucknow in the third week of January. After thorough evaluation and investigations, the doctors found that the patient’s thoracic aorta had a bulge of 9 cms in width and 18 cms in length with blood clots around (signs of blood leak and nearing rupture). The patient was immediately admitted in ICU and vitals stabilised. The doctors said that beyond 5 cms the aortic aneurysm could be fatal as it could rupture any time. For treating the patient, the doctors used the Thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) method. As the aneurysm was very large it required placement of two stented aortic grafts of 30 cms each into the thoracic aneurysm. This is known as aortic stent graft into another aortic stented graft, a very challenging endovascular procedure. The aortic stent-in stent grafts made a route for the blood to flow into the body without forming a bulge. The data has also shown that this condition happens in only 1% of the population in India and the primary reasons are atherosclerosis, genetic, (Marfans etc.) followed by hypertension and lack of exercise, and following major blunt trauma. However, only 50% people suffering with aortic aneurysm survive if treatment is given on time. Dr Vijayant Devenraj, Senior Consultant Cardiothoracic & Vascular Surgery at Apollomedics Super Specialty Hospital, Lucknow said, “The TEVAR procedure is very complex as the placement of the graft in the aorta must be very precise. The aneurysm may rupture during the procedure. There may be dissection that is again a dreaded disease. If the graft gets place above or below the affected place, it can cause spinal paralysis. Earlier open surgical repair was the only option and carried lots of morbidity and mortality. TEVAR is a modern method to treat such complex cases as it results in reduced blood loss, low chances of infection and shorter stays at the hospital and is minimally invasive.” The doctor also injected a word of caution for people to never ignore severe non relenting pain in their chest and back simultaneously, which could be a sign of thoracic aortic aneurysm. “If one experiences a similar pain in the chest and back they must keep a watch on their blood pressure and visit the doctors at the earliest”, added Dr Vijayant. The team comprised of Dr Tarun Bansal (Cardiologist), Dr Sarkar and Dr Kushal Hajela (Cardiac Anaesthetist), Dr Munshi (CTVS Surgeon), Ms Navneet Devenraj (Perfusionist), Dr Ashish Rai, Dr Sushil (ICU incharge) and team CTVS.

A 10-day-old baby from Mauritius, born preterm and with critical congenital heart disease and acute renal failure was flown to India, a distance of over 4600 km, for a life-saving cardiac procedure at Apollo Hospitals, Navi Mumbai. The baby, after stabilization at Mauritius, was referred to Apollo Hospitals, Navi Mumbai for further treatment. At Apollo Hospitals, an emergency life-saving procedure, Coarctoplasty was performed that involved placing an absorbable stent to widen the narrowed portion of the baby’s aorta. The procedure was successful and the baby was able to breathe without the help of a mechanical ventilator after three days. Dr. Bhushan Chavan, Consultant – Paediatric Cardiology, Apollo Hospitals Navi Mumbai said, “The baby’s condition on arrival in India was critical. The baby had a critical congenital heart disease that required urgent intervention. We performed an emergency Coarctoplasty, which is a procedure to widen the narrowed portion of the aorta, using an absorbable stent. The use of an absorbable stent was a novel approach to the treatment of congenital heart disease. After the procedure, the baby’s condition showed significant improvement. Given the other problems that the baby had, it was a multi-disciplinary team effort that helped in providing the baby with comprehensive care.” The baby was born prematurely through normal delivery in a hospital in Mauritius. However, shortly after birth, the baby was found to be limp, cyanosed, and having difficulty breathing. The baby was shifted to the Neonatal ICU where it was discovered that the baby was suffering from Critical congenital heart disease, acute renal failure, and dysmorphic features including bilateral low-set ears, hypertrophied hands and feet, and bilateral clubfoot. After stabilizing the heart, the baby was referred to Apollo Hospitals Navi Mumbai in India for advanced treatment and management. After admission at Apollo Hospitals, the baby developed severe respiratory distress and had to be intubated and put on mechanical ventilation. Due to the critical cardiogenic shock with a renal shutdown, emergency cardiac management was initiated with emergency Coarctoplasty. A balloon Coarctoplasty with stenting using MERIL absorbable stent as a palliative procedure was done in the Cath lab. The baby was sedated and continued on mechanical ventilation. The baby showed clinical improvement and was gradually weaned off the ventilator after three days. Mr. Santosh Marathe, Regional CEO – Western region, Apollo Hospitals, said, “At Apollo Hospitals, we are committed to providing the highest level of care to all our patients, including our youngest and most vulnerable ones. It is a matter of pride that families from as far away as Mauritius trust us to treat their loved ones and the successful management of this critical case is a testament to our team’s expertise and dedication to delivering the best possible outcomes. We are glad that our highly skilled doctors, nurses and support staff were able to ensure the health and well-being of this newborn. AHNM runs a very busy Pediatric Cardiology Institute, wherein a significant number of domestic and international patients are benefited from the comprehensive care provided in screening, surgical interventions, post-operative care and rehab services.” The baby is now on the road to recovery and has been advised to follow up with a cardiologist in Mauritius and Apollo Hospitals Navi Mumbai after two months. This case highlights the importance of timely medical intervention and comprehensive care and is a demonstration of the world-class healthcare delivered at Apollo Hospitals.

Apollo Hospitals organized the 9th Edition of the International Patient Safety Conference (IPSC) and the 10th International Conference on Transforming Healthcare with Information Technology (THIT) on 13th & 14th February at Taj Palace, New Delhi. The conference was also a part of the ongoing celebrations of Founder’s Day, an annual event to pay tribute to the visionary Founder & Chairman of Apollo Hospitals, Dr Prathap C Reddy. The International Health Dialogue addressed critical issues in patient safety, with global experts on the subject and more than 2000 delegates from 30 countries. With sessions around this year’s theme of ‘Dream, Design, Dare’, the IPSC conference featured stalwarts like Shri Parameswaran Iyer, CEO, NITI Aayog and Dr Atul Mohan Kochhar, CEO, NABH India in their panel of esteemed speakers. Global thought leader Shri Sadhguru, Founder of the Isha Foundation gave an insightful virtual session in the International Health Dialogue. Other Dignitaries like Dr Neelam Dhingra, Head – WHO Patient Safety Flagship Initiative, Geneva, Switzerland, Dr Jonathan Perlin, President & CEO, The Joint Commission, USA and Dr Jacob Thomas, Chairman of the Board of Directors, Ramsey Sime Darby Healthcare, Malaysia also participated in the International Health Dialogue. The panel also included Prof Ilona Kickbush, Founding Director and Chair, Global Health Centre, Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies, Geneva, Dr Carsten Engel, Chief Executive Officer at International Society for Quality in Health Care (ISQua), Atul Mohan Kochhar, Chief Executive Officer, National Accreditation Board for Hospitals and Healthcare Providers (NABH), India and others. Dr. Prathap C Reddy, Chairman, Apollo Hospitals Group, said, “For decades, we have been at the forefront of ensuring that our patients receive treatment that is on par with the best available globally. Bringing the best of world-class healthcare to patients in India has always been our mission. The conference is our effort to encourage discussion and debate with the chance to effectively address issues among all stakeholders. We must remain updated on new developments and strategies to use modern technologies and AI to provide the best healthcare services possible.” This year’s THIT’s theme is centered on the Butterfly effect in action, examining different aspects of Digital Health along with accompanying standards and policies. It was supported by different endorsing partners and national organizations such as the National Health Authority (Govt of India), the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry, the Indian Medical Association, leading universities and several other Government organizations. Organizations like WHO, IITs, AIIMS Delhi, Indian Institute of Science, faculty from several overseas universities and established MNCs also participated in the conference. Additionally, start-ups from Innovative Centers of Excellence working on Make in India for the world projects, encompassing Digital Health, also showcased their products. Dr. Preetha Reddy, Vice Chairperson, Apollo Hospitals Group, said, “The International Patient Safety Conference provides a forum for all interested parties to discuss best practices for enhancing patient safety, which is a crucial component of healthcare delivery. The THIT conference provides a platform for healthcare and IT entrepreneurs, professionals and students to get insights into how the healthcare business is getting disrupted by medical technology and innovation and the necessity to keep up with this transition. We anticipate a result in which the recommendations made are incorporated into the national policy to enhance patient safety and use innovative technology to achieve cost-effective health results that are advantageous to all stakeholders in the country’s healthcare industry.” The IPSC conference was organized, in partnership with leading organizations, including Joint Commission International (JCI), the Public Health Foundation of India (PHFI), the Academy of Hospital Administration (AHA), the National Accreditation Board for Hospitals and Healthcare Providers (NABH), Consortium of Accredited Healthcare Organizations (CAHO), Quality & Accreditation Institute (QAI), Association of Healthcare Providers India (AHPI), Astron HealthCare Consultants and others. Adding insights on the twin conferences, Dr. Sangita Reddy, Jt. Managing Director, Apollo Hospitals Group said, “As India moves closer to achieving universal health coverage, patient safety and digital health should be given high consideration. The twin conferences aim to foster discussion around healthcare policy and create a detailed framework for building a more secure and effective ecosystem for healthcare delivery incorporating the latest technologies to bring healthcare within everyone’s reach.” During the conference, the International Patient Safety Awards were presented to recognize excellence in various categories, including Digital Innovation, Patient & Family Collaboration, Culture of Safety Design, Quality / Patient Safety beyond Accreditation, Patient Safety and Medication Safety.

In line with the mission to provide the most comprehensive and advanced cancer care in India, Apollo Proton Cancer Centre (APCC), Chennai has expanded its portfolio with another major addition of Proton Gantry named as the Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Therapy Bay. The hospital runs the largest Proton Beam Therapy (PBT) program in the country. Hon’ble Thiru M.P. Saminathan, Minister for Information and Publicity, Government of Tamil Nadu, and Mr APJMJ Sheik Saleem, Co-Founder, APJ Abdul Kalam International Foundation, inaugurated Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Therapy Bay in the presence of Mr Harshad Reddy, Director-Operations, Group Oncology & International, Apollo Hospitals, Mr Harish Trivedi, Chief Executive Officer, APCC and Dr Rakesh Jalali, Medical Director & HOD- Radiation Oncology, APCC. The bay comes with a high-tech, most sophisticated and advanced state-of-the-art treatment delivery technique known as image-guided intensity modulated proton therapy (IG-IMPT). When compared to conventional X-ray-based radiotherapy, this IG-IMPT has minimal to no exposure of normal, healthy organs to radiation. It has a dedicated proton pencil beam scanning (PBS) nozzle and image guidance built in for the delivery of radiation with ultra-precision. Sophisticated mathematical algorithms, the Leoni 6-Dimensional Robotic couch for comfortable patient positioning, PBS, and inbuilt image guidance can result in accurate delivery of radiation to even the most complex tumour shapes with ultra-high precision. Read more about the launch of new gantry by Apollo Proton Cancer Centre

Staying always ahead in the technology curve, Apollo Multispeciality Hospitals, Kolkata has acquired the Da Vinci Xi Robot for the first time in Eastern India. Being the first hospital in Eastern India to bring Da Vinci Si Robot a decade back, it has now moved a step ahead with thelatest technology. The Xi Robot can assist surgeons in interventions in gynecology, urology, oncology, cardiology, gastroenterology and others. The Robot is extremely helpful for accessing the organs in the lower abdomen difficult to reach with bare hands. The da Vinci Xi robot allows surgeons to perform minimally invasive surgeries with enhanced visibility and dexterity, allowing for accurate movements and overall improved patient safety. It maintains high levels of precision with less time in docking machine on the patient’s body before the surgical procedure. Patients get benefitted from smaller scar, shorter stay in hospital with minimal blood loss and faster recovery. Mr Rana Dasgupta, CEO- Eastern Region, Apollo Hospitals Group, said, “Being among the best healthcare providers in Eastern India, we always focus on ensuring the latest technologies for our patients. This is yet another endeavor towards ease of treatment for all our patients.” Present at the occasion, Dr Surinder Singh Bhatia, DMS, Apollo Multispeciality Hospitals Kolkata expressed, “Robotic surgery is the next generation of minimally invasive surgery. Surgical robots are extremely beneficial for many minimally invasive surgeries as it helps in precise movements of surgical instruments beyond human ability in a small surgical area. da Vinci Xi is the latest robot with the modern functionality to help the surgeons operate, ensuring highest levels of patient safety and fastest recovery.” The whole procedure of Robotic surgery involves the doctor sitting in the console with the monitor displaying the surgical area and the robotic arms assisting the doctor for operating. One of the arms holds a high magnification 3D camera which is inserted into the abdomen through one of the key holes and provides a high-definition, magnified (12×), 3-D view of the surgical site. The other mechanical arms have surgical instruments attached to it that are designed to mimic the movement of the human hands and wrists. The primary benefit of Robotic surgery is minor incisions and hence, recovery is faster with much lesser complications. It also comes with less pain, lesser or no chance of infection as the incision is much smaller than the usual size of cut, less hospital stay and early recovery.

A 28-year-old man, a citizen of Oman, was successfully treated for left knee deformity at Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals in New Delhi. The man was suffering for the past 11 years after his knee bone (tibial condyle) was fractured in an accident. While after the accident he was treated in his native country, he continued to face acute knee pain and over the time developed a complex knee deformity. With his condition deteriorating over the past years, he was referred to Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals, New Delhi where he was admitted under the supervision of Dr (Prof.) Raju Vaishya, Senior Consultant, Orthopaedics and Joint Replacement. Through X-ray and CT scan he was diagnosed with malunited medial tibial condyle fracture with severe varus deformity and posterior subluxation (partial dislocation) of the knee. He was admitted to the hospital on 24th November, 2022. Speaking on the same, Dr (Prof.) Raju Vaishya, Senior Consultant, Orthopaedics and Joint Replacement, Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals, New Delhi said, “On admission at Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals, the patient was very weak and was unable to walk. The complex knee deformity is known as a malunited fracture where the fracture was not united in the correct alignment. Since the tibial condyle fractures involve the knee joint, there was a complex deformity of the knee due to varus (bow leg) and posterior subluxation (backward shifting). The patient knee became increasingly painful after 2 years of the initial treatment and the deformity and instability also increased over 9 years, which deteriorated over the past year. If left untreated his symptoms could have further worsened leading to immobility and severe restriction of the activities of daily living. The patient would have eventually required a total knee replacement at a young age. He was admitted on 24th November 2022 and he was treated via 3D printing technology, which is a relatively new technology to correct joint deformities. The procedure took about 90 minutes. The complex knee deformity of this young man was treated using 3D printing technology, where virtual preoperative planning was done on the computer and a 3D printed plastic model, to correct the deformity. A novel type of osteotomy (trans condylar valgus osteotomy of TCVO) was used to correct the alignment of the knee. The preoperative 3D virtual planning helped us to replicate the bone cuts and fix the osteotomy (bone cut) with a remolded titanium plate, during the surgery”. The patient is doing fine now. His knee pain has been resolved and the deformity corrected. He was discharged on 28th November 2022 and at present is undergoing rehabilitation of the knee in Oman.

Adding another feather to its cap, Apollo Hospitals, Seshadripuram, Bangalore brings in India’s very first prostate cancer diagnosis breakthrough – MRI Fusion TRUS guided Trans-Perineal Targeted Biopsy, a novel technology that enhances the accuracy of cancer detection by 95% to 97% which was impossible to achieve with conventional diagnosis methods. Dr Manohar T, Chief of Urology, Uro Oncology & Kidney Transplantation, Laser, Laparoscopic, Transplant and Robotic Surgeon at Apollo Hospital Seshadripuram and Director, Apollo Institute of Renal sciences (AIRS) is the first doctor in the country to successfully conduct 42 procedures using MRI Fusion TRUS guided Trans-Perineal Targeted Biopsy. In this unique procedure one has to undergo multi-parametric magnetic resonance imaging (mpMRI) and contouring of the lesions which are suspected to be cancerous and prostate size is marked via a special software pack. The image is then transferred to the special ultrasound done transrectally. The ultrasound probes assess the longitudinal and cross-sectional images of the target lesions. Keeping the target in situ, a small bore needle is passed perineally (the area between the scrotum and the anus) via a grid (brachytherapy) for a more accurate yield of tissue for examination. In this method, one can do sector biopsies and saturation biopsies depending on the size of the prostate and in addition target biopsies to accurately diagnose the lesion with minimal sampling. The procedure is conducted under local, regional, or general anesthesia. Explaining the benefits of this latest technology, Dr Manohar T, said “Prostate cancer is the second most common and accounts for 7.1% of the total cancers in men and early diagnosis is critical in improving the outcomes. However, a delay in diagnosis may progress cancer into an advanced stage and the five-year survival rate significantly drops to 30%. Conventional investigation methods miss the diagnosis by 35-45%. The current biopsy method of TRUS biopsy which is done via the trans-rectal route can lead to infections and still misses the diagnosis in about 25% of the cases. This new TRUS biopsy method done trans-perineally offers accuracy up to as much as 95 to 97%, has high specificity and sensitivity, prevents unnecessary biopsies, does not require the patients to be on pre-operational antibiotics or have any bowel preparations and most importantly, there is no risk of infection when the procedure is done through the perineal region.” Adding on to the above benefits, Dr. Manohar pointed out that the MRI Fusion TRUS guided Trans-Perineal Targeted Biopsy method can access both the halves, upper and lower parts of the prostate for targeting lesions and detecting if they are cancerous or not, unlike the procedure that is done trans-rectally which can cover only the lower half of the prostate. Also, this method can pick up cancers as small as 2mm, making the detection at the extremely initial stage of cancer a reality, thereby considerably enhancing the treatment outcomes. “Surgeons require extensive training before performing this procedure as it requires immense technical skills and expertise,” Dr Manohar T said. Dr. Manish Mattoo, Chief Executive Officer – Karnataka Region, Apollo Hospitals, said “Apollo Hospitals has been consistent in revolutionising India’s healthcare with the expertise of its doctors and cutting-edge infrastructure. MRI Fusion TRUS guided Trans-Perineal Targeted Biopsy will play a significant role in making prostate cancers completely curable and enhancing the quality of life of patients by detecting it at the earliest.” Mr. Uday Davda, Unit Head – Apollo Hospitals, Seshadripuram, Bangalore said “It is a matter of great privilege and honour for us to be able to be a part of this ground-breaking breakthrough in early cancer detection. Apollo Hospitals has always been a pioneer in driving technology innovations in India’s healthcare. MRI Fusion TRUS guided Trans-Perineal Targeted Biopsy will certainly revolutionise prostate cancer detection and treatment by providing optimal clinical outcomes.”

Mr. Vinod K Patel and Mr. Md Mansoor underwent successful liver transplants at Apollomedics Hospital Lucknow. Relatives of both the patients who donated part of their liver are also healthy. Mr. Vinod K Patel and Mr. Md Mansoor had reached a state of severe abdominal pain, vomiting, jaundice and impaired thinking. On getting tested by the doctors at Prayagraj, it was found that their livers were severely damaged and transplant was the only option left. They were advised to go to Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai or Hyderabad for liver transplant. But the long distance and the added expenses were challenges for both the patients. Both these patients then consulted Dr. Waliullah Siddiqui, Consultant Surgical, Gastroenterology HPB & Liver Transplant at Apollo Hospital, Lucknow. Dr Siddiqui told them all about the liver transplant facilities available at Apollomedics Hospital Lucknow. He also explained in detail about the cases of successful liver transplant already done at Apollomedics Hospital. The transplant was successful due to the superspecialist doctors and ultramodern medical equipment available at Apollomedics Super Specialty Hospital, Lucknow. Both the patients and donors are completely healthy now. MD & CEO, Apollomedics Hospital, Dr Mayank Somani said, “Apollomedics Super Specialty Hospital is the first private hospital in the state, apart from NCR, to be licensed for heart and lung transplant along with other organ transplants. Apollomedics Super Specialty Hospital, Lucknow has an in-house team of super specialist doctors present 24×7, who can take a quick decision on the need for a transplant and perform a timely transplant, which can save a patient’s life.” Dr. Somani explained, “The liver is the only organ in the human body that can regenerate. Only 25% of the original liver tissue is needed for this to happen. If a person needs a liver transplant and a close relative donates a small part of the liver, it returns to its original size in about four weeks.” Dr. Waliullah Siddiqui said, “Post-transplant, patients have to visit the hospital frequently for follow-up so that doctors can regularly check their recovery and acceptance status of the transplanted liver. It is very convenient for the patients of Prayagraj to travel to Lucknow and meet the doctor regularly for follow-up. Every year in India, due to the unavailability of donated organs, the lives of about 5 lakh people are at risk. This is because India has one of the lowest rates of voluntary organ donation in the world. The biggest reason for this is lack of awareness, along with religious beliefs, cultural misconceptions and prejudices. If the organ of a relative is not available, the waiting period of the patients needing organ transplant becomes longer.