True to Apollo’s, firm belief that enhancement of medical knowledge is one of the key mechanisms for continued excellence, and to keep abreast with the ever evolving changes in the field of stem cell usage, Apollo Speciality Hospital , Chennai organized the 1st International Symposium on Cord blood Transplantation covering the usage of cord in blood disorders. Cord blood stem cells have been termed truly as Lord Dhanvantri’s magic potion for the cure of blood related disorders in the last two decades. The symposium, the 1st of its kind in the country was aimed to:- Raise awareness about the use of cord blood as a source of stem cells Provide scientific knowledge and guidelines for physicians wishing to pursue the use of cord stem cells Leukemia, Thalassaemia and inherited genetic disorders seen in childhood are a huge burden to our society. Deliberations on use of cord blood as a source of stem cells in these conditions were the highlights of this symposium. The panel of Speakers, featuring some of the most eminent Onco-Hematologists, Transplant Physicians from India and abroad were quite eloquent in proposing their thoughts, the key International Faculty included:- Dr. Elaine Gluckman – Professor Emeritus of the University Paris-Diderot & President of Eurocord, who is referred to as Mother of Cord Blood Transplant , appreciated the work done at Apollo Hospitals, Chennai here to improve our patients life by using new and life saving cell therapy from cord blood. Dr. Vinod K. Prasad – Director, Pediatric Blood and Marrow Transplant Fellowship Program Dukes University, USA, impressed on us the cord blood usage practice in the U.S, and his clinical experience on its usage. Dr.Tang-Her Jaing, Admitting Physician, Department of Hematology/Oncology, Chang Gung Children’s Hospital, Chang Gung University, Taiwan who is one of the world’s leading physician using cord blood to cure thalessemic conditions, was insightful as well. The other Indian Panelists and Chair persons included the leading transplant physicians, Hematologists, pediatricians and medical oncologists shared their thought on leveraging the usage of Cord blood as an important Source for managing blood Disorders. The program was very well attended by almost 130 Transplant physicians, Onco-Hematologists, Oncologists & Pediatricians etc. “The need for a Public cord blood repository in our country” is the one important resource we need in our country and we hope all the participating physicians, would put their efforts to bring make this dream come true.

Shaping the dimensions of the ever evolving and complex healthcare environment in India, Apollo Hospitals launched The PET SUITE in India. The PET SUITE was launched at Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals by the Hon’ble Chief Minister, of Delhi Smt. Sheila Dikshit. Paving the Way for the Next Generation of Clinical Multimodality Imaging Applications and designed to diagnostically address the complexities of human body, Apollo Hospitals has installed a PET CT and a PET MR, which is the first of its kind across South Asia, signifying a tremendous leap forward in imaging capabilities. The PET MR System has resulted from the amalgamation of a state of the art whole body 3T MRI scanner and a high end PET system, which has been fully integrated and precisely aligned within the same gantry. This enables us to simultaneously acquire accurate information on morphology, function and metabolism. The significance of this facility gets augmented by the deft handling and interpretive reporting by leading experts in the field. The PET-CT facility being equipped with state of the art 427 slice / sec CT scanner, Ultra HDPET with highly specialized 4D respiratory Gating software is a boon for cancer patients as the radiotherapists would be able to deliver highly precise radiation doses, synchronized with patients’ breathing patterns. Addressing the media, Dr. Prathap C Reddy, Chairman, Apollo Hospitals Group said, “As the First to bring the PET SUITE to South Asia, Apollo Hospitals continues to deliver on its promise to bring the most advanced technologies in patient care. It’s a tremendous leap forward in imaging capabilities. Our highly trained doctors will now use one of the world’s most advanced combination scanners which will give them highly defined, 3-D images, enabling them to make the best choices about treatments across specialties. And since the PET MR is a system that can simultaneously acquire data across the whole body, the scanning takes less time thereby reducing patient discomfort. As MR has no radiation, the PET MR significantly reduces overall radiation exposure, making it safer for children and patients undergoing repeated studies for therapy monitoring”. The advantages of the PET MR system would be its superior quality images with better soft tissue contrast, leading to better localization and characterization of lesions. Other than its application in cancer, PET MR will play a greater role in understanding various disease processes in cardiology and neurology. Its ‘zero’ radiation exposure from the machine (unlike CT), making it safe for pediatric case evaluation and for women in the reproductive age group indicates that it can be used safely for disease follow up. PET MR will establish a new understanding of the previously unknown interrelation between different measures of pathology and physiology in human body. With the enhanced ability to explore correlations between structure and function, perfusion and metabolism, tissue diffusivity and cell proliferation; PET MR potentiates our ability of gaining new insights into the progress of disease, unlocking new paths to treatment or even opening new areas of research. With approximately 3 million people suffering from cancer in India and one million new cases of cancer being detected every year, there is an urgent need for early detection and the right treatment to avoid recurrence. PET-MR helps precisely in that by providing important information for early detection and staging of cancer, which can be a decisive factor for treatment planning, therapy selection including target therapy and follow up.

Apollo hospital has set up a state-of-the-art body scanner which detects cancerous cells quickly, and may go a long way in timely selection of treatment for cancer patients, officials of the hospital said on Wednesday. The Positron Emission Tomography-Magnetic Resonance (PET-MR) has been combined with PET Computerised Tomography (CT) to create the PET Suite which scans patients quicker, thus reducing discomfort and helping in therapy selection and treatment. Since doctors can simultaneously acquire data from the whole body, the scanning takes less time, thus, reducing the discomfort of the patient, Prathap C. Reddy, chairman of the Apollo Hospitals Group, told reporters in New Delhi. ‘As MR has no radiation, this machine can significantly reduce the overall radiation dose, making it safer for pediatrics and patients undergoing repeated studies for therapy monitoring,’ he added. Compared to hospitals abroad, ‘the cost is 75 percent less and diagnostic accuracy is 100 percent,’ said Uma Ravishankar, Head of the Department of Molecular Imaging and Nuclear Medicine. Besides detecting cancer, PET-MR can also play a major role in understanding cardiology and neurological diseases, doctors said. The PET Suite will be formally launched on Feb 16 by Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit.

“India is facing severe health challenges and the need is more healthcare hospitals and professionals,” said Dr Prathap C. Reddy, chairman of Apollo Hospitals Group. Announcing the launch of the first training academy by Apollo MedSkills in association with National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) on Tuesday, Dr Prathap said there was huge opportunity for healthcare professionals in India and the young population could gainfully make use of the opportunities. The training academy at Anna Nagar in Chennai aims at providing employment opportunities to over 1,150 candidates in a year. Apart from Chennai, the academy will be launched in Patna, Shillong and Hyderabad by April. “Over 40 centres will be opened across the country within two years. The skill development centres will have high-end facilities such as simulation laboratory, web conferencing and soft skills training,” informed Sangita Reddy, executive director-operations, Apollo Hospitals Group. Targeted at lower and middle income group, the course fee starts from Rs. 10,000. Dr K. Prabakar, CEO, Apollo MedSkills Limited, informed that the training academy would offer 27 courses such as medical lab technology, dialysis, radiology and imaging, operation theatre technology for up skilling doctors and nurses and skilling paramedics and support staff.

Kick starting the week-long initiative on world cancer day, February 04, 2013; Apollo hospitals aims at creating awareness about the advantages of robotic surgery as a better treatment for cancer as it is more precise, comfortable and has the best clinical outcome for treatment of cancer. As part of the initiative, workshops will be conducted across Apollo hospitals in Delhi, Hyderabad, Kolkata and Chennai. State-of-the-art operating theatres in Apollo are equipped with the Da Vinci Si surgical system, the most advanced platform for minimally invasive surgery available today. The four-armed surgical robotic system is a breakthrough in surgical capabilities especially in the areas of Uro-Oncology, Gynae-Oncology, Gastro-Oncology and Head & Neck – Oncology where precision matters most. This is the only system that allows surgeons to operate while seated, which may also be clinically advantageous. Better ergonomics than traditional open and laparoscopic surgery and a design for natural hand-eye positioning, limiting the assistance required and reducing surgeon fatigue, improves surgical capabilities. This was announced in a seminar organized by Apollo hospitals and their Sri Lankan representative med-connect in hotel Galadari recently. Specialists from Apollo including Dr. K. Ramesh -specialist-robotic urology surgery and Dr. Sumana Manohar-specialist-robotic gynecological surgery were present and shared their expertise on robotic surgery. A robotic surgery-helpline (number) was launched as part of the same by Mr. Jithu Jose-General Manager-International division of Apollo Hospitals and Ms. Nilmini Withana – CEO- Med-Connect- Sri Lanka on the occasion. Sri Lankan doctors can also join the special workshop and have training on this advanced robotic technology during the 5 day workshop in Chennai, India. World renowned proctors from Korea and California will be in Apollo for the same to share their knowledge. In a special message, Dr. Prathap C. Reddy – chairman of Apollo hospitals said: ‘I am happy to learn about the robotic surgery helpline launched in Sri Lanka. “Innovations and break-through technologies play a pivotal role in healthcare. In the diverse and constant battle against cancer, the surgical robot is soon gaining ground. Apollo hospitals strive to bring the best of innovation and best practices into robotic surgery in India and we are happy to share this expertise with the medical fraternity across the globe. This Oncorobotic surgery initiative has resulted from our commitment and efforts as a responsible healthcare provider, providing healthcare at an affordable price delivered with our trademark tender loving care. This initiative is aimed to provide patients with clinical outcome of global standards and perhaps even better than conventional surgery.

Apollo Health City announced the performing of a revolutionary Minimally Invasive Knee Replacement (Resurface) Surgery (MIKRS) using OrthoGlide Medial Knee system. This surgery was successfully performed for the first time in Andhra Pradesh by a team of orthopedic surgeons led by Dr. Prabhat Lakkireddi, Consultant Keyhole and Minimally Invasive Orthopedic Surgeon. The team performed a bilateral (on both the knees) OrthoGlide knee surgery for the first in India. The most common cause of knee pain is Arthritis where the joint lining called cartilage is damaged due to wear and tear causing inflammation and pain. In India 50% of the general population develops arthritis during their lifetime and is the second largest ailment after diabetes. OrthoGlide, a metallic, wedge-shaped device is a novel implant that replaces worn cartilage inside the knee. It offers patients a less invasive alternative to total knee replacement. This device is inserted into the knee through a 5 to 7 cm incision, which relieves pressure, restores proper joint alignment, redistributes the load more evenly and increases stability. The surgery using OrthoGlide knee implant was performed on a 45 year old lady with severe pain in both the knees for the past 3 years. The path breaking surgery took under an hour for each knee leaving all the joint bones naturally and virtually untouched with almost no blood loss, no bone loss and no cement. After the surgery the patient had minimal pain and started walking the following day. This surgery promises a less expensive and easy path of regaining normal lifestyle functions, and it definitely offers a new ray of hope to active and young patients who are worried about major surgery and prolonged post op rehabilitation to deal with Knee Arthritis, says Dr. Prabhat Lakkireddi, who was trained in London for 10 years and recently joined Apollo Health City. The Major advantages of this surgery over standard Total Knee Replacement includes its affordable cost and early rehabilitation which helps patients to return to their normal routine and life style expeditiously. It allows the patient to squat and seat cross legged, an important part of our daily lives in India and which is not possible with the conventional knee replacement surgery. Above all OrthoGlide allows delay of total knee replacement until patients are older and less likely to require a second knee replacement. As against a Total Knee Replacement, Minimally Invasive Knee Replacement (Resurface) Surgery involves a 2 inches incision, no cutting of the natural bone, the joint is left intact, no cutting of the muscle therefore no bleeding, less painful, low infection, less complications, fast recovery, can walk the same day, the surgery can be performed as a day care surgery and therefore doesn’t require hospitalization . The cost would range between Rs 1.1 to 1.2 lakhs, which would come down further with mass utilization of the device. This surgery has the approval of the FDA. This surgery can be opted after conservative oral medical treatments fail. MIKRS offers a cost effective treatment for early and moderate arthritis of the knee joint at virtually half the cost of Total Knee Replacements – which is considered to be the last option for the disease in advance stages with badly degenerated joints.

Apollo Hospitals has launched a unique Oncological Robotic Surgery initiative, to mark World Cancer Day, February 04, 2013 ! It aims at creating awareness about the advantages of Robotic Surgery as a better treatment for various cancers as it is more precise, minimally invasive, heals faster and has the best clinical outcomes. Schedule of the Oncorobotic Surgery Workshops : Apollo Hospitals, Chennai – February 01 to February 08, 2013 World renowned proctors Dr. Woong Youn Chung MD, Ph.D., Chief, Endocrine Surgery Division, Department of Surgery, Yonsei University School of medicine, Seoul, Korea and Dr. Byung Soh Min MD, Ph.D, Assistant Professor, Department of Surgery, Yonsei University, Seoul, Korea will be at Apollo Hospitals, Chennai from February 01 to February 08, 2013. In addition to sharing knowledge with their Indian peers, they will conduct workshops and perform OncoRobotic surgeries on selected patients along with the team of Apollo Hospitals surgeons who have also been extensively trained in Robotic Surgery. The Robotic Surgery team would conduct Urologic, Gynaecologic, Colo-Rectal and Head & Neck surgeries during this period. For further information on OncoRobotic Surgeries in Chennai, please contact Dr. Venkatasalam at +917299961010; roboticsurgery@apollohospitals.com Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals, New Delhi – January 31 to February 13, 2013 World renowned proctors from Korea and California, Dr. Krishnansu S. Tewari, Professor & Director of Research, University of California, Irvine Medical Center, Dr. Byung Soh Min, Department of Surgery, Yonsei University College of Medicine and Dr. Woong Youn Chung MD, Ph.D., Chief, Endocrine Surgery Division, Department of Surgery, Yonsei University School of medicine will be at Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals Delhi from January 31 to February 13, 2013. In addition to sharing knowledge with their Indian peers, they will conduct workshops, where they will perform OncoRobotic surgeries on selected patients in Delhi between 6-9th February in Gynaecology; 9-12th February in Urology and 9-12th February in Colorectal Surgery. For further information on OncoRobotic Surgeries in New Delhi, please contact Dr. Gaurav Katyal at +919873217415; drgaurav_k@apollohospitals.com / roboticsurgery@apollohospitals.com Apollo Health City, Hyderabad – February 01 to February 10, 2013 World renowned proctors from Korea and California Dr Byung Soh Min, MD, Deptt of Surgery, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul Korea and Dr Woong Youn Chung, MD Phd, Proff,Deptt of Surgery, Yonsei University College , Seoul Korea will be at Apollo Health City, Hyderabad from February 01 to February 10, 2013. In addition to sharing knowledge with their Indian peers, they will conduct workshops, and perform OncoRobotic surgeries on selected patients. For further information on OncoRobotic Surgeries in Hyderabad, please contact Dr.Rahul Khandelwal at +919866507870; roboticsurgery@apollohospitals.com Apollo Gleneagles Hospitals, Kolkata – February 03 to February 06, 2013 World renowned proctor Dr Krishnansu S. Tewari, Professor & Director of Research – The Gynaecologic Oncology Group from University of California will be at Apollo Gleneagles Hospitals, Kolkata from February 03 to February 06, 2013. In addition to sharing knowledge with his Indian peers he will conduct workshops; he will also perform OncoRobotic surgeries on selected patients along with the team of Apollo Gleneagles surgeons who have been extensively trained in Robotic Surgery . The Robotic Surgery team would conduct Urologic, Gynaecologic, Colo-Rectal and Head & Neck surgeries during this period. For further information on OncoRobotic Surgeries in Kolkata, please contact Dr. Sujoy Kar at +919804000407; roboticsurgery@apollohospitals.com

Cosmetic surgery is a life-enhancing event. It can set you apart from others and give you the looks that you always desired. Apollo Hospitals Group, India’s premier healthcare service provider, added another feather in their hat of excellence, with the launch of the first Apollo Cosmetic Clinic in North India. A brand new offering from one of the most trusted names in health care; the Apollo Cosmetic Clinic is now open in Delhi after the runaway success of the maiden centre in Chennai. Coupled with the clinical excellence spanning three decades, the clinic offers world-class cosmetic treatments under one roof to the discerning people of the city. Equipped with the best specialists in the country, state-of-the-art infrastructure, cutting-edge technology and techniques, zero-infection zones, stringent quality control and international-standard protocols, abundant precautions have been taken to ensure patient safety and complete confidentiality. Dr Kuldeep Singh, Senior Consultant, Cosmetic Surgery, Indraprastha Apollo Hospital said, “Over the year’s cosmetic surgery has become a much safer, effective and popular trend. The improvement of the human figure is now almost limitless with the advancement in the medical surgery, whether it is in the face, body or limbs”. Dr Shahin Nooreyezdan, Senior Consultant, Cosmetic Surgery, Indraprastha Apollo Hospital said, “Being a leader in the industry, it is quintessential for us to provide our customers with innovative and high quality service offerings that cut across the healthcare spectrum. Cosmetic treatments worldwide are becoming a preferred choice of many to acquire the much-desired beauty; however, the biggest deterrent for such treatments continues to be quality and the safety of patients. Our foray into cosmetic treatments with the Apollo Cosmetic Clinics aims at bridging this gap to offer a seamless solution for beauty treatments with absolute care that reflect the same passion, commitment and credibility that the Apollo Group of Hospitals has extended over the last three decades to its patients”. The specialized team at Apollo Cosmetic Clinic includes Dr Kuldeep Singh, Dr Shahin Nooreyezdan, Dr Lokesh Kumar, Dr RK Seth, Dr I P Singh and Dr Anup Dhir.

Apollo Hospitals, India’s leading healthcare provider, in its yet another initiative to bring the best healthcare practices to India, announced its plans to establish a Proton Therapy Center in India, the first of its kind across South East Asia, Africa and Australia. This launch that marks the beginning of the next wave of advancement in radiation therapy in India is worth approximately Rs. 400 crores, which covers the equipment and services supplied by IBA (Ion Beam Applications S.A.) to help establish the Apollo Proton Therapy Center including the long-term operation and maintenance contract. Designed with state-of-the-art technology, IBA Proteus ®PLUS is clinically inspired to offer the possibility to configure the most appropriate combination of features to meet the individual needs of patients and provides a versatility to meet the clinical objectives of physicians. IBA will equip the Apollo Proton Therapy Center with its Proteus ®PLUS multi-room configuration which will include three treatment rooms with Uniform Scanning and Pencil Beam Scanning capabilities. IBA will also provide all dosimetry equipment to ensure the safest and fastest commissioning of the center so that patients can benefit from this technology starting 2016. In addition to this, the Apollo Proton Therapy Center will have a significant portion of the facility dedicated to research and development that will partner with leading institutions across the world to foster innovation so as to make modern healthcare accessible and available for the nation. Speaking on this new initiative, Dr. Prathap C Reddy, Chairman, Apollo Hospitals Group said, “”This new proton therapy facility will give patients access to the most advanced radiation therapy technology. Moreover, the center will become an International Proton Therapy Center of Reference in Asia, allowing us to further enhance our ability to provide superior cancer care and promote the benefits of proton therapy technology across the sub-continent””. Olivier Legrain, Chief Executive Officer of IBA, commented: “”We are very excited to be making proton therapy available for the first time in India. The Indian healthcare market is growing rapidly and there is a significant need for innovative approaches to cancer therapy. Apollo Hospitals is one of Asia’s leading healthcare providers and through our collaboration, IBA further strengthens its world leading position in proton therapy and will be at the forefront of delivering the latest in innovative cancer therapy to the Asia region.”” With approximately 3 million people suffering from cancer in India and one million new cases being detected every year, there is a need for specialty cancer treatment hospitals. As most patients are diagnosed with advanced stage cancer, the demand for state-of-the-art cancer treatment is high. This Proton Therapy Centre, with its highly advanced technology, will be able to provide the best in class treatment for patients who suffer from cancer. Proton therapy is increasingly considered the most advanced and targeted cancer treatment due to its superior dose distribution and fewer side effects. Protons deposit the majority of their effective energy within a precisely controlled range, directly within the tumor and sparing healthy surrounding tissue. It is used today to treat many cancers and is particularly appropriate in situations where treatment options are limited and conventional radiation therapy presents risks to patients. These situations include eye and brain cancers, tumors close to the brain stem and spinal cord, prostate, liver, lung and breast cancers, and pediatric cancers.

Apollo Hospitals unites healthcare professionals from around the globe to discuss ways to combat the spread of infection. The 2-day forum focuses on best practices, existing concerns and latest advances in the field of infection control and prevention. The 1st Apollo International Forum on Infection Control (AIFIC) was inaugurated today by Dr. J. Radhakrishnan, Secretary, Department of Health and Family Welfare, Government of Tamilnadu in the presence of Dr. Prathap C. Reddy, Chairman, Apollo Hospitals Group. Apollo Hospitals, pioneer in healthcare sector is hosting this 2 day International Forum on Infection Control for healthcare professionals to the latest advances in Infection Control practices and strategies. Infection Control is a rapidly evolving field within the healthcare sector, it is fundamental in preventing spread of diseases. Infection prevention and control measures aim to ensure the protection of those vulnerable to acquire infection both in the general community and while receiving care in hospitals. Good practices adopted universally across health care and community-based settings contribute significantly to disease prevention. The 1st Apollo International Forum on Infection Control (AIFIC) is indeed a unique platform for health experts from across the world to discuss best practices, existing concerns and latest advancements in the field of Infection Control while promoting reflective discussions among speakers and delegates from various disciplines. The 2 day international forum brings together more than 20 renowned international and national speakers to discuss the future of infection control in 2020, prevention of antimicrobial resistance and confronting Multi-Drug Resistant Organisms (MDRO). Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Prathap C. Reddy, Chairman, Apollo Hospitals Group said, “Infection Control is one of the top most priorities in hospitals to help improve patient outcomes and reduce length of stay. With advent of newer antibiotics there has been a progressive rise in the incidence of antibiotic resistance. While it is a worldwide phenomenon, the nature of antibiotic resistance varies widely from country to country. Even though this is an undesirable and inevitable trend, recognizing, curtailing and managing this is a challenge.” He also added, “Infection control is a critical and key initiative in every Apollo hospital and it helps us in meeting international norms in Infection control and assures world class clinical outcomes, exceptional patient safety and satisfaction.” Clinicians, infection control nurses, quality professionals, researchers, microbiologists, hospital administrators, students and other healthcare professionals from various countries are a part of this international forum. Ways to Prevent Infection Wash hands frequently Cover mouth and nose while sneezing and coughing Use safe cooking practices Do not share personal items like toothbrushes, towels, razors, handkerchiefs, and nail clippers Avoid close contact with others during illness Get proper vaccination to fight the spread of infection

Apollo Gleneagles Cancer Hospital, Kolkata partnered with Yuvraj Singh’s ‘Youwecan’ Cancer Screening Initiative and launched its first Mobile Cancer Screening Unit whichwill undertake cancer screening programs at various locations in West Bengal. The Mobile Cancer Screening Unit was flagged off jointly by eminent cricketer, Mr Yuvraj Singh and Dr. Rupali Basu, Chief Executive Officer of Apollo Gleneagles Hospitals – Kolkata. The specialized Mobile Unit is equipped with state-of-the art Auto Analyzers and Enzyme Analyzers for blood tests and a X-Ray machine to carry out on-the-spot chest X-rays. All the tests and clinical examinations would be done by the on-board Doctor, Lab Technician, X-ray Technician and Nurses. The Mobile Medical Unit would go to various locations in our state to carry out on-the-spot cancer detection. This initiative offers free consultations to all. Two highly subsidized screening packages are also being offered to the people as per the advice of the on-board-doctor. Apollo Gleneagles Cancer Hospital has joined hands with YOUWECAN, founded by eminent cricketer Mr. Yuvraj Singh to organize mass cancer screening programs across various locations in West Bengal and other states.

Chairman Dr Reddy announces a comprehensive non communicable disease screening programme at the Third Annual Conference of the Global Association of Physicians of Indian Origin. Physicians of Indian origin from across the globe congregated at the third annual conference of the Global Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (GAPIO) in Kochi, Kerala, with a vision to improve healthcare worldwide. GAPIO was launched in January 2011 to bring together 1.2 million physicians of Indian origin in the world on one professional platform. This substantial workforce of physicians is a valuable resource, which can help to mobilize significant developments in the healthcare globally. GAPIO already has representation from 15 countries in the President’s Council. Speaking on the occasion of 3rd Annual conference at Kochi, Dr. Prathap C Reddy, President, GAPIO said "establishing itself as an association of the Indian medical diaspora, GAPIO is marching ahead to impact global healthcare. The moment has arrived for the Indian doctor to take a lead in shaping the contours of global health scenario". Dr Reddy announced a comprehensive screening programme for non communicable diseases in Chittoor district in Andhra Pradesh as a pilot by GAPIO, which will then be replicated in other parts of the country. GAPIO would also like to work closely with the Government of India and different state governments in screening programs. Dr Sanku Rao, Vice President, GAPIO announced the plastic surgery program that will be held in Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh in January where more than 100 patients will undergo free surgery. According to Dr. Ramesh Mehta, Secretary General, GAPIO, an exchange program to facilitate senior faculty exchange across institutions in India and other countries will also be launched this year.