Lord Ram’s banishment to the woods had ended in 14 years, imprisonment sentences for even the severest of crimes end in 10 to 14 years. What had she done to deserve such a punishment? Samreen’s mother wondered. She had been married for almost 17 years and was yet to beget a child of her own. It is said that motherhood completes a woman and brings out the best in her. Would she ever experience it? She had suffered repeated miscarriages that had completely drained her body and soul. Pregnant again, she prayed fervently for the successful outcome of this pregnancy. But she had been praying for years and years, she had begun to ask herself – was there a God?The cry of her newborn baby seemed like a call from the heavens above to uphold her faith. She had never been happier! No sound sweeter! Her husband wept like a baby. They had finally become proud parents to a baby girl. They named their new born jewel, Samreen.Sadly, their joy was short lived. They had not even settled into their newfound roles, not even learnt to change the diapers properly that their visits to the hospitals began. Samreen had jaundice, and then began visits from one doctor to the other. At 5 months of age, she vomited blood and was hospitalized at Islamabad.  She was detected to have progressive familial intrahepatic cholestasis, a condition in which liver cells are less able to secrete a digestive fluid called bile. Build up of bile in the liver cells leads to liver failure.She would require regular medications, but there was no way to prevent her liver disease from progressing. She had developed portal hypertension and had repeated episodes of bleeding from her gut necessitating blood transfusions and endoscopies. Every bleeding episode was a potential threat to her life.Her parents were devastated. It seemed like a sword always dangled over their head. Her mother would go paranoid thinking she would bleed again. She was all but 3 years in age, what years of prayers had brought seemed to be slipping out of her hands. Questions plagued her mind, had she asked for something that was not meant for her? Was the joy of motherhood not destined for her? Is that why they were suffering? Could God be so ruthless?  She would go crazy with grief. Was a gift, a gift at all if it was to be snatched away so soon?  But Samreen was destiny’s child. She was meant to live. Her doctors in Pakistan advised her for a liver transplant. It was the her only hope. Her parents were terrified of such a major high risk surgery. They chose to put their trust in the Divine and came to India for a liver transplant.The surgery was a success and she recovered wonderfully. She did have postoperative infections that were treated well. She went home after about 5 weeks in hospital. Finally, life for Samreen and her parents had begun.The Clinical Perspective Post transplant Samreen developed chickenpox. She did receive prophylaxis but still suffered the infection. As all post transplant patients are on medications to suppress their immunity and chickenpox is highly contagious, an outbreak in the postsurgical unit would have been devastating. She was immediately isolated and all precautions taken.

The hospital cot was her cradle, the beeps of the monitors her rattle sounds, stethoscopes her toys, the doctors and nurses her family. For Vani, the hospital was her home. Her parents had forgotten the joys of youth, the gay abandon their age would warrant.  They had suddenly grown up, sobered and quietened by the burden and enormity of Vani’s illness. Nothing could have prepared them for the suffering they would go through together.Like all new parents, they had been overjoyed by Vani’s birth, she was God’s gift to them. Full of dreams to raise her as their princess, buying her frilly frocks and fancy pink clips, they brought her home. But only if yellow would give pink a chance….A few days after her birth, they noticed that she had yellow eyes and urine. Her stools were clay white. The idea of routine newborn jaundice that resolves in a few days was reassuring,  but they began to worry when she was still jaundiced well into her second month of life. Medical tests confirmed that she had biliary atresia. She needed urgent surgery and was operated at 57 days of life. Thus began her war with the disease.The cure that had been anticipated with her surgery was never to be. It only left her worse with repeated episodes of infection in her gut as it had been connected to her liver. She received multiple courses of antibiotics for the next few months. She would get a little better and be discharged from hospital, only to be back again in a week or so. This happened half a dozen times. Finally she was then brought to Indraprastha Apollo Hospital, Delhi, frail, emaciated and struggling for her life.She was put on ventilatory support as her blood grew deadly bacteria for which she was treated with heavy antibiotics. Thankfully, she responded well and her infection was controlled. But her doctors knew that her only chance for survival was to have a liver transplant. However, she weighed just 6 kgs, had been ill for what seemed forever, her liver had failed and infection would return any time.  They could not wait for her to gain weight and grow stronger for the surgery. This was the only window of opportunity. She was on top of her infection and a very high risk liver transplant was performed.Out went her diseased liver with all its hidden foci of infection and along with it her misfortune. Worst fears of her not coming out alive from the surgery were allayed when she was wheeled out of the operation theatre after the 12 daunting hours of surgery.  She was a fighter, she looked better as each day passed and the real Vani surfaced. Vani with white eyes, soft belly with no distension, kicking her way to good health. Within 3 weeks she was home, never to be hospitalised again in the 7 years that have elapsed after her transplant.Life had triumphed, had given her the joy of childhood in her parental home, with many more to grow up for. A pink wedding dress, perhaps?The Clinical Perspective Vani had been ill for too long, was very weak due to her chronic liver disease, repeated infections and prolonged hospitalization. This made her transplant very high risk and early complications like flare up of infection and vessel thrombosis were feared. However, she had a dramatic recovery after receiving the new healthy liver.

“Ayubowan” – May you have the gift of long life! With this traditional Sri Lankan greeting Dhanundhara was welcomed to his place of birth by his grandparents. Just as this tear shaped island country is the sparkling jewel of the Indian Ocean, so was Dhanundhara the jewel of his family, doted by one and all.All of 3 years, he was too small to express in poetic language the natural beauty of his country. The magnificent coastline along azure seas lined with palm trees, sun drenched beaches, lush green jungles, cool refreshing hills had a magical effect on him – transforming him from the quiet reserved child that he was, to a chirpy kid squealing with joy at every new experience.His parents had migrated to UAE and it was his skin condition that had brought them on this trip. Dhanundhara suffered from vitiligo, a skin disease that causes white patches on the body. Full of its traditional heritage as their country was, they banked on an alternative medicine therapist to try and heal him with herbal medication. Sadly, it became the source of their nightmare.He had been on his herbal medications for a few weeks when he began to have fever and then vomitings and jaundice.  He had developed hepatitis, ie inflammation of the liver. His parents took him to back to Abu Dhabi for medical care but his condition progressively deteriorated. He had developed acute liver failure and was susceptible to life threatening bleeding or coma if his liver function continued to deteriorate any further. He needed an urgent liver transplant.Emergency contact with the team of liver specialists at Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals was made and he was flown to India. It was inferred from his clinical course and diagnostic workup that he had developed liver failure due to the herbal medications as all tests for an infective cause or underlying silent chronic liver disease were negative.Preparations were started and he was admitted to the intensive care unit. It was a herculean task to care for him. He would speak little and would resist blood tests with all his might. His long dark curly hair made the staff mistake him time and again for a girl, causing him to sulk further. Only his mother could understand his agitated state of mind behind his quiet persona that gave a false perception of tranquility. She was his magic charm and became his donor, giving him life twice.The transplant surgery was a success and he was off the ventilator within a few days. When all seemed fine, arose another problem. He would not accept his oral medicines. He hated them. He had always been averse to taking medicines, said his mother. He would just shut his mouth and require coercing for hours together, becoming agitated when forced. After undergoing a transplant one needs to take regular medications, to prevent the body from rejecting the new liver.  Am I going to struggle daily to administer them, wondered his mother. For a few days, his oral feeding tube was not removed after surgery so that he could be given his medications. The magic charm that his mother was, she gradually and loving brought him around and he slowly overcame his strong aversion to medicines.By the time of discharge, his syrups didn’t anger him, the needles and syringes didn’t terrify him. All he wanted was to go home to live the life he had been blessed with.The Clinical Perspective Acute liver failure is a grave medical emergency as the mortality risk is very high. An urgent liver transplant has to be arranged before the patient develops complications involving the brain, kidneys and other organs that would render a transplant unfeasible and/or futile. Dhanundhra had to be airlifted to our hospital from UAE at a very short notice. Meticulous preparations ensured he underwent a timely transplant.

New Delhi, Apr 23 (PTI) The country”s leading healthcare provider Apollo Hospitals on Friday said it has come out with a book with best practice guidelines for hospitals, nursing homes and healthcare workers amid the COVID-19 pandemic.The COVID-19 Red Book summarises evidence-based best practice guidelines to support big and small healthcare institutions in making quick and timely decisions for diagnosis, treatment and management of COVID and non-COVID cases during the pandemic, Apollo Hospitals said in a statement.

Doctors at Apollo Hospital successfully implanted a large pulmonary valve through minimally invasive procedure on a 61-year-old woman from Chennai.

We are pleased to announce that Apollo Hospitals has once again dominated the annual healthcare rankings published by leading dailies, “The Times of India” and “The Week” for the year 2020, 2021.This would not have been possible without your continued support and trust especially during these difficult times. We would like to tank you for your continued faith in our clinical capabilities and our daily endeavour to save lives.Apollo “Center’s of Excellence” Rank No 1 for best clinical care.Along with Hospital Ranking, Apollo Hospitals Centre’s of Excellence – Cardio, Neuro, Ortho, Oncology, Pulmonology, Paediatrics and Diabetics tops the rank for clinical outcomes and care. 

~ Health of the Nation 2021 Report gives unique perspective on trends of non-communicable diseases across the country, shows path for early identification and management using AI, ML and data analytics ~National, April 7, 2021: On the occasion of World Health Day, the Apollo Hospitals Group, Asia’s largest and most trusted healthcare group, unveiled a report on the Health of the Nation that puts a spotlight on how the last two decades have seen a steady rise in non-communicable diseases (NCDs).  The contribution of NCDs as the top causes of death in India has risen to a staggering 64.9% as compared to communicable diseases, maternal and other causes that dropped to 25%. The study provides a unique perspective drawn from Apollo Hospitals’ 37 years of experience and its vast footprint across the country and underlines how Artificial Intelligence and Big data analytics can help to predict risk and prevent NCDs. Given the pandemic, this is also important as individuals with NCDs such as diabetes, heart disease, hypertension, chronic kidney disease, and chronic liver disease have a greater mortality risk from COVID-19.Dr Prathap C Reddy, Chairman, Apollo Hospitals Group said,“Even before the pandemic began, we have been facing an unacceptable loss of lives due to non-communicable diseases (NCDs). The silent epidemic of NCDs was evident with NCDs behind 40% of all hospital stays. However, in dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic, the data from our Health of the Nation report made it clear that we have let another epidemic slip, the epidemic of NCDs – the impact of which we are already beginning to see around us. We can overcome NCDs together as a country, only if each and every one of us take our health seriously.“At Apollo, we have been working on preventive health for over 37 years. From the very first Master Health Check in the country, we have been constantly evolving our programs for early detection and better clinical outcomes. Apollo ProHealth is a proactive personalized health management program backed by cutting-edge technology – advanced diagnostics, artificial intelligence and predictive algorithms – to help identify your health risk. It coaches you to stay on the path to wellness until your health goals are achieved. With Apollo ProHealth, we hope to change the health check paradigm from a long checklist of tests to a meaningful conversation with the doctor on the status of your health, with a comprehensive plan to make you healthier tomorrow than you are today. Today, on World Health Day, on behalf of the Apollo Hospitals Group, I dedicate Apollo ProHealth to the health of our nation!”NCDs affect not just health, but also productivity and economic growth. The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development adopted by the United Nations recognises NCDs as a major challenge for sustainable development with the target to reduce premature mortality from NCDs by one-third by 2030. The pandemic last year has exacerbated the risks and impact of NCDs manifold, as also shown in the Health of the Nation report.Dr Sangita Reddy, Joint Managing Director, Apollo Hospitals Group said,“Apollo Hospitals’ commitment is to the health of the nation, with a vision to make our nation healthier. With the urgent need to respond to the challenge of non-communicable diseases, we cannot afford a pure treatment and curative approach to health. We believe that a focus on prevention will be transformative for the health of the nation. We are harnessing the power of technology to develop new methodologies for screening, detection, and patient risk profiling. We are using our pioneering experience of over 37 years and countrywide network to create and innovate new models of care to improve clinical outcomes. We have been the first to adopt Artificial Intelligence and Big data analytics to predict risk and personalize care.“Today, we are showcasing our insights into a vast amount of health data that will form the foundation of a healthcare model for our future. Many arms of Apollo Hospitals have worked together, collating their knowledge, data on the incidence of disease, and put that into one holistic report that is a representative study of the Health of the Nation.”NCDs account for 65% of all deaths in India. There is a need to look at new norms of preventive health management that allow us to detect and tackle risks from NCDs before they manifest, even more so in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Health of the Nation report offers a unique perspective of the healthy and unhealthy – across occupations, economic segments, and demographics, and trends of non-communicable diseases across the country.The study will help put in place approaches to improve disease prevention, increase the accuracy of early diagnoses that will, in turn, lead to a more personalized and patient-centric treatment approach.Dr Anupam Sibal, Group Medical Director, Apollo Hospitals Group said,“The Health of the Nation study highlights the need to direct our efforts efficiently towards controlling NCDs through optimal use of our healthcare infrastructure.The highest prevalence of pre-diabetes and diabetes is seen in 45-60 year olds and is almost as high as the 60+ age group. Amongst the diabetics, around 50% also have hypertension and are above the recommended weight. Around 60% of these diabetics are also leading a sedentary lifestyle. The data also indicates that while women have lower incidence of NCDs, the difference is marginal. Hence, they must stay vigilant. The economically disadvantaged are also not spared, although with lower prevalence.”There is a significant diabetes population in the major metros and suburbs of India, especially the Delhi NCR – Punjab & Haryana Belt, Kolkata, entire Mumbai-Ahmedabad belt, Hyderabad and Chennai, Kerala and Tamil Nadu, as well as in the predominantly rural areas of MP, Maharashtra, UP, Bihar, parts of Orissa and Gujarat. There is a significant hypertensive population in major metros such as Delhi, Punjab & Haryana, Kolkata, Mumbai, Goa, Trivandrum and Hyderabad and in the predominantly rural areas in Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, UP, Bihar, Orissa and Gujarat.Prof. Nirmal Kumar Ganguly. Former Director-General, Indian Council of Medical Research and President, Apollo Hospitals Educational and Research Foundation said,“Our pilot community health model, Total Health, to reduce premature NCD-related deaths in rural areas was launched in 2013 in Aragonda, Chittoor district. The program saw 31,350 people classified as low risk, moderate risk and high risk, according to their ten-year risk of developing NCDs, and proactively managed with regular follow up, investigations, medication, clinical interventions, counselling and lifestyle modifications for diabetes, hypertension and cancer. In addition, the program also addresses all other social determinants of health in the country (e.g., drinking water, nutrition, kitchen gardening, livelihood generation) to beyond just health to ‘Total Care’ for ‘Total Health’.Around 80% of mortality from NCDs is preventable with early detection and proper management. It is critical to continue to focus on regular health check-ups to detect NCDs along with AI-enabled tools that allow premature health events to be identified early.Under this program 1,980 diabetic and hypertensive patients have been put under regular follow up, who are under now control with proper investigations, medication, counseling and life style modifications. Also 5,391 rural women were screened for cancer and 17 early cancer cases (cervix and breast) were diagnosed and managed with appropriate health intervention services which were free of costDr Sujoy Kar, Chief Medical Information Officer said, “The study gives us the data that will allow the effective use of technology to predict risks and guide our actions to prevent and rein in the NCD epidemic. One such example is to evaluate and manage the High Sensitive Troponin-I (hsTnI)categorical CVD risk in subjects undergoing preventive health checks (PHC).  “AI and predictive algorithms can predict risk, prevent premature health events, and overcome chronic lifestyle diseases, when caught early. For example, we have developed a Cardiovascular Risk Score (AICVD) in the Indian population and it is now prospectively used and followed up on 33000 individuals as part of ProHealth to predict the risk of developing cardiovascular disease.There are various clinical tools using AI and data analytics ready for deployment as well as under research for various NCDs. These include tools and algorithms to identify medical issues early in CT scans, predict various risks including the risk of developing cardiovascular disease, asthma, liver fibrosis in NAFLD, breast cancer, pre-diabetes and stroke.Dr Sathya Sriram, CEO, Preventive Health, Apollo Hospitals Chennai said,“The Health of the Nation study has shown us the importance of shifting the paradigm in India from a curative to a preventive mindset. Apollo ProHealth, empowered by AI and predictive algorithms, is a personalized proactive health management program based on 22 million health checks, building on Apollo’s pioneering efforts in preventive care and led by medical experts committed to making individuals healthier. Apollo ProHealth includes personalized health risk assessment to predict health risks and diagnostics tailored to your profile, physician-led evaluation for a personalized treatment plan and wellness goals, and Health Mentors to regularly monitor your health parameters and help individuals stay on the path to wellness. Over the last 12 months, a cohort of ProHealth guests with diabetes have shown 33%-60% target achievement across multiple health parameters, such as blood pressure, cholesterol, physical activity and HbA1c. The Health of the Nation report is the basis on which NCDs can be managed proactively, with the data used for early identification and management of NCDs using AI and data analytics to enable India to follow an accelerated path to meet SDG goals by 2030.

 National, April 6, 2022: On the occasion of World Health Day, Apollo Hospitals, Asia’s largest and most trusted healthcare group, unveiled the Health of the Nation 2022 report highlighting the prevalence and distribution of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) across the country. Based on 16 million anonymized responses to the COVID-19 Risk Assessment Scanner by Apollo 24/7, the report gives critical insights on trends in NCDs such as diabetes, hypertension and heart disease, COPD & asthma, obesity in different regions of the country. The report also underscores the potential of AI and data analytics in prediction of risk and early identification as well as management of NCDs.           Dr Prathap C Reddy, Chairman, Apollo Hospitals Group said, “The last year saw the country steadily building a bulwark against COVID with a robust vaccination program that led to a steady fall in the number of COVID cases. As we emerge from the shadow of COVID, it is imperative to bring the focus back on the pandemic of NCDs, a focus that faced a disruption impacting diagnosis and treatment for millions of patients. It is the only way we will succeed against the multiple challenges we face today with the pandemic, a polluted planet, and an increasing incidence of diseases that form the theme for World Health Day 2022 – Our Planet, Our Health.“For a developing country like India, NCDs are a critical matter that need to be addressed. In India, NCDs kill 6 million people every year of which around 23% are between 30-70 years of age.[1] An analysis of the data from 3.8 Lakh responses to the COVID Scanner shows the criticality of addressing the NCD challenge using all the tools at our disposal. The data indicates a national prevalence for diabetes mellitus of around 7%, over 8% for hypertension, and around 2% for COPD & asthma. Considering our population of 1.2 bn., these are huge numbers that will increase the burden of disease and impact productivity and economic growth. We must address the NCD challenge through promotion of healthy lifestyles, early diagnosis and management. We must approach Health as investment and not as an expenditure”Key findings of the Health of the Nation 2022 report for Diabetes Mellitus show an increased prevalence in the southern and eastern parts of the country with an average national prevalence of 6.96%. Urban areas showed a higher prevalence at 7.01% as compared to rural areas with 6.70%. The study also showed obesity in women over 35 years of age leading to poor diabetes control and increasing risk of heart disease and other complications. Data also indicated poor diabetes control in women with high cholesterol with a 0.5 increase in HbA1c diabetes marker levels. In Hypertension, the study showed a national prevalence of high blood pressure at over 8.18% with a higher incidence in North and East India. Data also indicated that adult males between the ages of 36 to 50 years have a 36% higher chance of developing hypertension than adult females in the same age range. Urban areas at 8.6% showed a higher incidence as compared to rural areas with 7.58%.Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and asthma showed an incidence similar to global numbers at 2%. Here, females between 36 to 50 years of age showed a 1.3 times higher chance of developing COPD as compared to males.NCDs pose devastating health consequences for individuals, families and communities with socioeconomic costs that can derail India’s achieving the target of reducing premature mortality from NCDs by one-third by 2030 in line with the United Nations Agenda for Sustainable Development. It is imperative, that only by adopting Artificial Intelligence and Big data analytics to predict risk and personalize care, we can help give an advantage to healthcare providers!Dr Sangita Reddy, Joint Managing Director, Apollo Hospitals Group said,“The theme of World Health Day this year is ‘Our Planet, Our Health’, which is a powerful reminder to put the health of individual and the planet at the center of our actions to create societies focused on well-being. Our annual Health of the Nation study collating a vast amount of real-world data on the prevalence, incidence and risks of disease has led to insights that will help us allocate resources in an optimal manner and develop the right strategy to tackle the NCD pandemic.”The Health of the Nation study also looked at corporate employee data of about thirty-five thousand, where the average prevalence of at least 1 NCD in employees is about 56%. The NCD risk factors of high cholesterol is prevalent in 48% of employees and obesity in 18% of employees. There is variability across sectors, indicating that more sedentary corporate settings should consider ways to help their employees proactively reduce these risks.Dr Sangita Reddy added,“NCDs are fuelled by many factors that include urban lifestyles with stress and unhealthy diets and an aging population. Study results, derived from 35,000 health checks done with corporates in 2021, has also shown a high prevalence of NCDs among corporate employees. These insights will help us use technology to gain an upper hand in ensuring a healthy workforce. Combined with our pioneering experience of 38 years, we have at our disposal 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.”The AICVD risk score predicted a moderate or high risk of a cardiac event within 10 years in half of the 31-50 year olds. Other screening programs, especially for cancer, help with early detection and treatment for improved survival rates.Dr Sathya Sriram, CEO Preventive Health, highlights the silver lining, “On the positive side, the report also showed that structured programs help individuals who are at risk to implement and sustain lifestyle changes that reduce risk and slow the progression of the condition.” Enrollment in Apollo Clinics’ Sugar Program showed a mean HbA1c reduction by 1.2% between the first and fourth visits. Data from Apollo ProHealth, a proactive personalized health management program backed by advanced diagnostics, artificial intelligence and predictive algorithms, showed a mean HbA1c reduction for diabetics by 0.73% over 6-12 months, as well as an average weight loss of 3.9kg for 60% of those who engaged actively with the program.About Apollo Hospitals:It was in 1983, that Dr. Prathap C Reddy made a pioneering endeavor by launching India’s first corporate hospital – Apollo Hospitals in Chennai.  Now, as Asia’s foremost trusted integrated healthcare group, its presence includes over 12,000 beds across 72 Hospitals, 4500+ Pharmacies, over 120 Primary Care clinics and 700+ Diagnostic centers, 500 plus Telemedicine Centers, over 15 medical education centers and a Research Foundation with a focus on global Clinical Trials, epidemiological studies, stem cell & genetic research, Apollo Hospitals has been at the forefront of new medical advancements with the most recent investment being the commissioning of South East Asia’s very first Proton Therapy Centre in Chennai.Every four days, the Apollo Hospitals Group touches a million lives, in its mission to bring healthcare of international standards within the reach of every individual. In a rare honor, the Government of India had 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 37 years, the Apollo Hospitals Group has continuously excelled and maintained leadership in medical innovation, world-class clinical services and cutting-edge technology. Its hospitals are consistently ranked amongst the best hospitals in the country for advanced medical services.

Cardiologists from Apollo Hospitals, led by Dr A Sreenivas Kumar, conducted a minimally invasive heart procedure on 83-year-old male Covid survivor, who had multiple health complications.

Apollo will be stronger, more consumer-centric post Covid: Ms. Suneeta Reddy – Managing Director, Apollo Hospitals Enterprise Limited

Apollo has trained 6,000 staff to give out jabs across its network, according to MD Suneeta Reddy.