Apollo in partnership with RNTCP, commemorates the World TB Day, by releasing an animation film and hosting flash mob dance!

Hyderabad, March 23, 2018: As part of the Public Private Partnership initiative to control Tuberculosis, Apollo Hospitals, Hyderabad and RNTCP (Revised National Tuberculosis Control Program), Telangana, jointly hosted the World TB Day – 2018 program, on the eve of World TB Day(March 24th),on Friday at Apollo Health City. Each year, world-over the day is commemorated to raise public awareness about the devastating health, social and economic consequences of tuberculosis (TB) and to step up efforts to end the global TB epidemic. The theme of World TB Day 2018 – “Wanted: Leaders for a TB-free world”– focuses on building commitment across globally in all sectors – including governments, NGOs, private partners in the fight against TB.

The program was attended by Chief Guest Dr. Ch. Surya Prakash, Joint Director (TB) and STO– Telangana; Guests of Honor Dr. K. Hari Prasad, President, Hospitals Division, Apollo Hospitals and Dr. Suneetha Narreddy, Consultant, Infectious Diseases, Apollo Hospitals, patients, volunteers and public. An animation film on TB was released and a Flash mob dance was performed on the occasion to sensitize the society about the disease.

Despite significant progress over the last few decades, TB continues to be the top infectious killer worldwide, claiming over 4,500 lives a day. The emergence of multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB) poses a major health security threat and could risk gains made in the fight against TB.

The epidemic of tuberculosis (TB) is likened to the tip of an iceberg, with significant numbers unreached by the public health systems, globally. In India with an estimated incidence of 2.8 million, only 1.7 million TB cases were notified in 2015. Over a million cases are missing from the national notification system, posing a severe threat to the efforts towards ending TB by 2035, as per the ‘End TB strategy.’ Most of these seek care outside the national TB program in the private sector which is the first point of contact for nearly 80% of the general population. There is currently no mechanism in place in the private sector to follow up patients for adherence and treatment completion and response to treatment is not known.

To overcome this precarious situation mainly in the private sector, Apollo Hospitals in partnership with The Union South East Asia office, supported by Eli Lilly Foundation piloted an innovative eHealth intervention to engage corporate hospitals for TB notification and adherence support. As part of this a software was developed, which interfaces with ‘Nikshay’ –the Government’s web-based case-based notification system; and facilitates reminders for treatment adherence. Counselling services are provided through a trained counsellor as a follow up to the messages sent. The program was initiated in June 2015 and has till date reported over 700, as against a mere 1700 patients reported from the entire combined AP and Telangana in the private sector, in the same time period. Apollo has already expanded this program to all the Apollo Hospitals in Hyderabad and is working on expanding the same to other cities as well.

About Apollo Hospitals

It was in 1983, that Dr. Prathap Reddy made a pioneering endeavour by launching India’s first corporate hospital – Apollo Hospital in Chennai. Now, as Asia largest and most trusted healthcare group, its presence includes 8,488 beds across 51 Hospitals, 1,586 Pharmacies, 92 Primary Care and Diagnostic Clinics, 100 Telemedicine units across 10 countries. Health Insurance services, Global Projects Consultancy, 15 colleges of Nursing and Hospital Management and a Research Foundation with a focus on global Clinical Trials, epidemiological studies, stem cell & genetic research and the first Proton Therapy Centre across Asia, Africa and Australia.

In a rare honour, the Government of India issued a commemorative stamp in recognition of Apollo’s contribution, the first for a healthcare organization. Apollo Hospitals Chairman, Dr. Prathap C Reddy, was conferred with the prestigious Padma Vibhushan in 2010. For more than 28 years, the Apollo Hospitals Group has continuously excelled and maintained leadership in medical innovation, world-class clinical services and cutting-edge technology. Our hospitals are consistently ranked amongst the best hospitals globally for advanced medical services and research.