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Cancer day - Business Line Cancer day - Deccan Chronicle Cancer day - Munsif Cancer day - Sakshi Cancer day - Varta Cancer day - The Hindu YASHODA Hospitals-Hyderabad Conducts Live Surgery & Scientific Symposium across 6 different Specialities – the First Ever, in Vijayawada Vijayawada, February 20: Yashoda Group of Hospitals, fulfilling its commitment to excellence in medical education and research, has conducted a Live Surgery Workshop and Scientific Symposium across 6 different specialities for the first time in Vijayawada today at Hotel Gateway, Bandar Road. Using a high speed network, we have broadcasted 4 live procedures in 4 different specialities that included Orthopaedics, Cardiology, Bariatric Surgery and Spine Surgery, right from our operation theatres in Yashoda Hospitals, Hyderabad, to the participants in Vijayawada. A two-way communication was also made available to facilitate interaction between the surgeons and the participants during the live procedures. In addition to this, we have also conducted an interactive scientific symposium across 2 different specialities that included Pulmonology and Oncology. The symposium focussed on presenting and critically assessing recent advances and key topics in these specialities to enhance the knowledge of the participants. Participants of the workshop had the opportunity to watch
The Scientific Symposium included an interactive lectures delivered by our eminent faculty, Dr Vijai Kumar.R, MD, DTCD, FCCP(USA), FAARC(USA), in Pulmonology; and Dr. Babaiah, Radiation Oncologist in Oncology. Speaking on the occasion, Dr. G. S. Rao, Managing Director, Yashoda Group of Hospitals said, “We have chosen Vijayawada for this unique workshop owing to its rapid strides in the healthcare sector. With recent advances in diagnosis and treatments, the city is slowly turning out to be a medical hub in the Andhra region. This initiative is a small step in keeping with our aim to increase awareness on medical advancements by sharing our vast knowledge gained over two decades of extensive experience in most advanced diagnostics, treatments and therapies.” He further added, “Development in IT (Information Technology) and video technologies have made it possible for us to broadcast surgical operations in real time from our healthcare facilities to any places now. The workshop is founded on a free-exchange of knowledge from combined wisdom pool of over 700 doctors from Yashoda in different specialities, across three hospitals. We hope that this program provides a dynamic educational platform for all who participated – the faculty and the attendees alike.” Yashoda Hospitals is the largest corporate healthcare group in Andhra Pradesh operating three successful, fully independent, super-speciality hospitals and three Cancer Institutes. Situated in Hyderabad, the hospitals have a combined capacity of 1200 beds and treat more than 3 lakh people annually - more than any other private healthcare organisation in the state. We have more than 700 specialist doctors, 2,100 nurses and 4,500 employees comprising of paramedical and other support staff. YASHODA Hospitals-Hyderabad Conducts Live Surgery & Scientific Symposium across 6 different Specialities – the First Ever, in Kakinada Kakinada, February 20: Yashoda Group of Hospitals, fulfilling its commitment to excellence in medical education and research, has conducted a Live Surgery Workshop and Scientific Symposium across 6 different specialities for the first time in Kakinada today at Hotel Royal Park, Kosurivari Street. Using a high speed network, we broadcasted 4 live procedures in 4 different specialities that included Orthopaedics, Cardiology, Bariatric Surgery and Spine Surgery, right from our operation theatres in Yashoda Hospitals, Hyderabad, to the participants in Kakinada. A two-way communication was also made available to facilitate interaction between the surgeons and the participants during the live procedures. In addition to this, we have also conducted an interactive scientific symposium across 2 different specialities that included Critical Care and Oncology. The symposium focussed on presenting and critically assessing recent advances and key topics in these specialities to enhance the knowledge of the participants. Participants of the workshop had the opportunity to watch
The Scientific Symposium included interactive lectures delivered by our eminent faculty, Dr. Manimala Rao, Sr. Intensivist, in Critical Care; and Dr. CH. Srinivas, Radiation Oncologist, in Oncology. Speaking on the occasion, Dr. D. Surender Rao, Medical Administrator, Yashoda Hospitals said, “We have chosen Kakinada for this unique workshop owing to its exponential growth in healthcare in the past decade. With mushrooming of healthcare facilities supported by government as well as private institutions, this port city is slowly evolving to be a major medical hub, fulfilling the growing demand for quality healthcare in the region. Live Surgery Workshops and Symposiums can be premier platforms to carry forward the tradition of excellence, quality, openness, completeness, sharing and fellowship in the healthcare industry.” “Our initiative is a small step in keeping with our aim to increase awareness on medical advancements by sharing our vast knowledge gained over two decades of extensive experience in most advanced diagnostics, treatments and therapies. The workshop and symposium is based on free-exchange of knowledge obtained from our combined wisdom pool of over 700 doctors from Yashoda in different specialities, across three hospitals. We hope that this program provides a dynamic educational platform for all who participated – the faculty and the attendees’ alike” He further added. Yashoda Hospitals is the largest corporate healthcare group in Andhra Pradesh operating three successful, fully independent, super-speciality hospitals and three Cancer Institutes. Situated in Hyderabad, the hospitals have a combined capacity of 1200 beds and treat more than 3 lakh people annually - more than any other private healthcare organisation in the state. We have more than 700 specialist doctors, 2,100 nurses and 4,500 employees comprising of paramedical and other support staff. Download YASHODA Hospitals Conduct Live Operative procedures – the First Ever, in Khammam Khammam, March 13: Yashoda Group of Hospitals, fulfilling its commitment to excellence in medical education and research, has conducted a Live Surgery Workshop and Scientific Symposium across 5 different specialities for the first time in Khammam today at Rajpath Function Hall, Bypass Road. Using a high speed network, 4 live procedures in 4 different specialities that include ENT, Cardiology, Gastroenterology and Spine Surgery were broadcasted, right from the operation theatres in Yashoda Hospitals, to the participants in Khammam. A two-way communication was made available to facilitate interaction between the surgeons and the participants during the live procedures. In addition to this, an interactive scientific symposium on Internal Medicine was also conducted. The symposium focussed on presenting and critically assessing recent advances and key topics in this speciality to enhance the knowledge of the participants. Participants of the workshop had the opportunity to watch
The Scientific Symposium included interactive lecture delivered in Internal Medicine by eminent faculty, Dr. V.K. Agarwal, General Physician, on “Pyrexia with Multi-organ Dysfunction". Speaking on the occasion, Dr. R. Chandrasekar, Chief Operating Officer, Yashoda Group of Hospital said, “We have chosen Khammam for this unique workshop owing to its exponential growth in healthcare in the recent past. With mushrooming of healthcare facilities supported by government as well as private institutions, this town is slowly evolving to be a major medical hub, fulfilling the growing demand for quality healthcare in the region. Live Surgery Workshops and Symposiums can be premier platforms to carry forward the tradition of excellence, quality, openness, completeness, sharing and fellowship in the healthcare industry.” Dr. Nagendra Mahendra, ENT Surgeon, Yashoda Group of Hospitals, who was also present said “Our initiative is a small step in keeping with our aim to increase awareness on medical advancements by sharing our vast knowledge gained over two decades of extensive experience in most advanced diagnostics, treatments and therapies. The workshop and symposium is based on free-exchange of knowledge obtained from our combined wisdom pool of over 700 doctors from Yashoda in different specialities, across three hospitals. We hope that this program provides a dynamic educational platform for all who participated – the faculty and the attendees’ alike”. Yashoda Hospitals is the largest corporate healthcare group in Andhra Pradesh operating three successful, fully independent, super-speciality hospitals and three Cancer Institutes. Situated in Hyderabad, the hospitals have a combined capacity of 1200 beds and treat more than 3 lakh people annually - more than any other private healthcare organisation in the state. We have more than 700 specialist doctors, 2,100 nurses and 4,500 employees comprising of paramedical and other support staff. Download Novel Minimally Invasive Procedure Used to Save Brain Hemorrhage Patient Successfully at Yashoda Hospital Advanced balloon assisted coil embolisation of aneurysm February 11, 2010, Hyderabad: Mrs. Sunderamma, a 56 year old patient from Rampuram Village, Warangal district was brought to Yashoda Hospital on 3rd February 2011 following sudden severe headache and vomiting. A CT scan of the brain showed bleeding inside the brain (sub arachnoid hemorrhage) and the patient was immediately taken for a brain angiography, which revealed a large size brain aneurysm (abnormal ballooning of a section of blood vessel in the brain) on the right side of the internal carotid artery. Following the diagnosis, the patient was referred for an urgent “balloon assisted coil embolisation of aneurysm” procedure, a unique non-surgical procedure. Subsequently, the patient underwent through this procedure on 6th February 2011. Dr. Randhir Kumar, Neuro surgeon, Yashoda Hospital performed the surgery. In this advanced non-surgical procedure, a temporary balloon modifies the neck of the aneurysm and allows dense packing of the aneurismal sac to prevent further blood from entering the aneurysm and thus will not bleed any more. The primary purpose of the treatment of a ruptured aneurysm is to prevent a catastrophic, and often fatal, re-bleeding. The risk of bleeding is prevented by excluding the aneurysm from the blood circulation either by surgical clipping or non-surgically by endovascular coiling. In the case of Mrs. Sunderamma, the doctor opted for the Endovascular route, which is a less invasive non-surgical treatment of cerebral aneurysm without opening the skull or touching the brain. However the anatomy of the aneurysm of the patient was very complex as the ratio between the aneurysm and its neck was abnormal and due to this routine endovascular coiling was not possible. Surgery of this type of aneurysm can lead to gross morbidity and mortality. “The procedure was very complex as we were unable to do a routine endovascular coiling but we were successful and by using a balloon and seven platinum coils of different sizes the aneurysm was completely obliterated. The procedure took 2 hours and the patient was safely shifted to another ward on the second day and was discharged on the third day. She has recovered very well and is able to perform her routine chores without difficulty”, commented Dr. Randhir Kumar, Neuro surgeon, Yashoda Hospital. Cerebral aneurysm is responsible for approximately 25% cases of brain hemorrhage. Nearly 2% of the general population harbors brain aneurysm. Cerebral aneurysm needs to be treated urgently, as these aneurysms increase in size and/or rupture with time and can lead to death at any time. Yashoda Group of Hospitals Mobilizes Support from Prominent Healthcare Leaders for Combating Drug Resistance Hyderabad, April 7, 2011: Yashoda Group of Hospitals organized a unique seminar on Combating Drug Resistance, the theme chosen by World Health Organization (WHO) for the 61st World Health Day. Yashoda Hospitals, pledging its support and assistance towards the WHO’s global campaign against misuse of antibiotics, brought together eminent members from healthcare industry to have an active discussion and deliver a coherent statement of commitment by all. The aim of this seminar was to create awareness on damage caused by the misuses of antibiotics in general. The seminar focussed on the need for governments and key healthcare stakeholders (healthcare providers, patients, pharmacies, pharmaceutical companies, etc.) to implement the much required policies and practices in preventing and checking the emergence of highly resistant micro-organisms. It is a well known fact that antibiotics play an important role in the treatment of several communicable diseases. Although antibiotics have saved millions of lives and helped in increasing life expectancy, recent trends show intensive use of these antibiotics can reduce resistance power which in turn, can lead to microbes failing to respond to standard treatment, prolonged illness and greater risk of death. Thus, health-care providers play a key role in influencing the ways people consume antibiotics. Speaking on the occasion, Dr. G.S. Rao, Managing Director, Yashoda Group of Hospitals said, “Damage caused by misuse of antibiotics goes much beyond the damage caused to the drug itself and challenges control of infectious diseases thus increasing healthcare costs. TB, Malaria and HIV are among many infectious diseases that are becoming increasingly drug resistant. As healthcare providers, our focus is always on patient safety and quality of care and we follow a strict antibiotic policy that adheres to the NABH Standards“ “At our end, we believe in having educational campaigns for communities to make them aware of do’s and don’ts of using antibiotics. Our doctors prescribe higher quality antibiotics and encourage patients to finish the prescribed course of treatment. Without high quality antimicrobials and strong infections control mechanisms, the success of treatments like organ transplantation, cancer chemotherapy and other major surgeries would be compromised” he further added. Mr. R P Meena IPS, Director General Drug Control Administration who was also present in the seminar said, “When micro-organisms become resistant to most antibiotics, they are called ‘super bugs’. This is a major concern, because a resistant infection may kill, can spread to others and impose huge costs to individuals and society at large. We are working to strengthen surveillance and monitoring systems to check use and availability sub-standard medicines and antibiotics.” Dr. Bandi Parthasaradhi Reddy, Chairman & Managing Director of Hetero Drugs Limited commented, “Antibiotics, once considered wonder drugs, were used for decades to effectively treat a number of bacterial infections. Unfortunately, owing to worldwide misuse and availability of sub-standard antibiotics, common bacteria are now becoming resistant to treatment with these drugs.” He further urged “There is an urgent need for unified commitment to save these wonder drugs for future generations. We are instituting better systems to ensure uninterrupted supply of quality medicines and antibiotics. Towards this goal, we are investing in more research and development to strengthen the arsenal of antibiotics available in our society.” Yashoda's Young Doctors Camps Carves a Niche in the Heart of Aspiring Little Doctors Hyderabad, 4 June 2011: Making the right career choice from the plethora of opportunities is a vital decision for every student. With so many career options now, even parents are in a dilemma as to what career can be best for their wards. Vital decisions, like career choice, cannot be made in vacuum. Keeping this in mind, Yashoda Group of Hospitals, a major healthcare group in AP, successfully conducted and concluded a unique summer camps aptly called “The Young Doctors’ Camps”, as it provided a real-life experience for students aspiring to be doctors. The camp was the result of Yashoda Hospitals’ belief that it is vital to educate students and provide them a platform that will guide them to make a well informed career choice. The free, 4-day Camp was held in two batches from 24th May to 27th May at Yashoda – Malakpet, and 1st June to 4th June at Yashoda – Secunderabad and Yashoda – Somajiguda. The camp was specifically aimed at students of 9th standard, stepping into 10th standard this academic year (2011-12). Selection of the students for these camps were based on the evaluation of their marks sheet and on an essay written by them on the topic “Why you want to be a part of Young Doctors’ Camp at Yashoda”. The objective of the camp was to offer an enhanced understanding of the advantages, challenges and excitement of being a doctor. Selected students were provided with a kit consisting of a bag, pen writing pads, including a doctor’s apron to give them a practical understanding of what it is really like to be in this field. They were introduced to the world of medicine that included hands-on experience on a range of medical fields. Students were toured around the facility to make them aware of various medical departments such as Diagnostics, In-patient wards, Pharmacies, Out Patient (OP) departments, Diagnostic centre, Operation theatre, Nursing stations, etc... Students showed active interest as the camp was structured in a manner where academic sessions were interspersed with both fun and academic activities. The camp included interactive academic sessions such as, group work, classroom sessions that included surgery videos and lectures from prominent doctors, and quizzes on each day. This actually created immense enthusiasm amongst the students as the camp enabled them to gain a deeper understanding of the entire medical profession and make the right career choice. Talking excitedly about this camp, Neha Jain, a participant from NASR School said, "I was keen to join Yashoda's Young Doctor Camp as it would give me a very good opportunity to learn from experienced doctors and more importantly to get a preview into the life and work of doctors. The camp was beyond my expectation and further fortified by dream to become a Doctor. I am grateful to Yashoda for this." Another participant, Hemachandran from Gitanjali Devashray School said, "This camp gave me an opportunity and a rare insight into the style of functioning of the medical profession. The camp helped me in understanding the career that I intend to take up as my future. I would like to take this opportunity to thank Yashoda Hospitals in giving me this opportunity." Parents have also shown keen interest in the camp. The camp concluded in a colourful concluding day ceremony. Students and their parents were quite happy at the ceremony where all the students were awarded certificates for participation and successful completion of the camp Speaking about the camp in the concluding ceremony, Dr. G.S. Rao, Managing Director, Yashoda Group of Hospitals said, "Young Doctors' Camp was started with a view to facilitate holistic growth of the children. The idea was to promote medical profession in India, as it is considered to be a safe and secure career that can also earn the goodwill of others. The main goal of this camp is to provide students a real-life experience of being a doctor and help them in making a vital career decision." He further added, "With investments in healthcare growing every year in our country, inspiring young students to take up medical profession as a career with such summer camps will indeed boost medical tourism in India" News paper items AP Governor Inaugurates Yashoda Cancer Institute at Malakpet 17 September 2011, Hyderabad: Andhra Pradesh Governor Shri E.S.L. Narasimhan today inaugurated a new Cancer Institute of Yashoda Group of Hospitals, the leading healthcare group in AP, at Malakpet. The state-of-the-art cancer institute in Malakpet is Yashoda Group’s third cancer institute. The institute will draw together world-class technology, medical expertise and research to provide the best results for cancer patients. Yashoda Cancer Institute, Malakpet, will be a boon for the people of old city. It is the first modern facility of its kind in the area to offer the most advanced procedures and technologies for detection and treatment of cancer. The institute is equipped with the world's latest Varian RapidArc Linear Accelerator, equipped with most sophisticated 3D planning systems. Yashoda Group of Hospitals was the first in Asia to acquire this RapidArc Linear Accelerator. The institute will also offer advanced diagnostics systems including invasive diagnostics, out patient & inpatient chemotherapy, non-chemotherapy (biologic) drugs, radical/supra radical & minimally invasive cancer surgery, palliative care, and other related cancer care needs. Yashoda Cancer Institute, Malakpet, has an internationally reputed team of Radiation, Medical and Surgical Oncologists who are highly skilled and experienced, trained at the best institutions around the country. They have significant expertise in performing complex and cutting-edge procedures to improve treatment outcomes, minimize hospitalization time and reduce treatment costs. The achievements of the Department of Radiotherapy have been recognized by international scientific associations such as ASTRO (American Society for Radiation Oncology), and ESTRO (European Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology). The Department of Medical Oncology at Yashoda Cancer Institute, Malakpet is equipped with a dedicated unit for chemotherapy of solid tumors as well as blood cancers, backed with a sophisticated blood bank. A bone marrow transplant centre is also in the pipeline. The Department of Surgical Oncology performs all major cancer surgeries including breast conservative surgeries, head and neck onco surgeries, laparoscopic surgeries. The department is equipped with HEPA filtered operation theaters, advanced laparoscopic equipments, harmonic scalpel, Frozen Section facility, which helps us in providing the most comprehensive cancer care for the patient. Owing to its convenient location, the cancer institute at Malakpet will not only address the patients from old city of Hyderabad, but will also serve the patients from neighbouring districts like Mahabubnagar, Khammam, Nalgonda, Kadapa and Anantpur. The three cancer institutes are linked wirelessly allowing patient data, which is stored centrally, to be accessed from all three centers. This in turn enables Yashoda Cancer Institutes to conduct centralized treatment planning. Radiation can be administered by the doctor to patient sitting at any one of the three locations. This allows patients from all areas to access the best and most preferred specialists, with minimum investment of time, effort and cost. Speaking on the occasion, Dr. G. S. Rao, Managing Director, Yashoda Group of Hospitals, said, “Being at the forefront of advanced medical treatment, Yashoda Group of Hospitals holds its repute by providing leading technologies and world-class infrastructure. The new addition at Malakpet underlines our commitment to offer quality healthcare service and excel in what we do. Our aim is to provide advanced healthcare technology in lesser developed areas, and enable patients from these areas to avail high quality treatment at effective costs.” “His Excellency Shri E.S.L. Narasimhan is a truly extraordinary leader who believes in working in the public’s interests. His enthusiasm, optimism and dedication to building a better AP for all citizens, has been a source of inspiration. It is our privilege to have him as the chief guest for the inauguration of our new cancer institute” he added. About Yashoda Group of Hospital: Yashoda Hospitals is the largest corporate healthcare group in Andhra Pradesh operating three successful, fully independent, super-speciality hospitals. Situated in Hyderabad, the hospitals have a combined capacity of 1400 beds and treat more than 5 lakh people annually - more than any other private healthcare organization in the state. We have more than 700 specialist doctors, 2,100 nurses and 4,500 employees comprising of paramedical and other support staff. Unique Cardiac Pacing Course on World Heart Day Hyderabad, September 23: Yashoda Group of Hospitals, fulfilling its commitment to excellence in medical education and research, is conducting a comprehensive Cardiac Pacing & Hands-on Course on 25th September 2011 at Hotel Marriott, Hyderabad to commemorate the World Heart Day. The one-day course, meant for the benefit of cardiologists and physicians, will cover all the aspects of Cardiac Pacing. The course assumes special significance as it provides a unique opportunity for the participants to gain knowledge and practical skills required for higher specialist training in cardiology using state-of-the-art equipment Educative lectures from Dr. V. Rajasekhar, Consultant Cardiologist, Electro Physiologist of Yashoda Hospitals and one of the few trained implanters in India and Dr. Maninder Bedi, a renowned cardiology specialist from the University of Pittsburg, USA, will be the highlights of this course. The course would be of immense value to practicing cardiologists in understanding the cutting-edge techniques in Pacing in order to treat the ever-increasing number of heart diseases, especially among the young and middle-aged people, in India.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr. G. S. Rao, Managing Director, Yashoda Group of Hospital, who is also the chief patron of this course said, “We, at Yashoda Group of Hospitals, believe in increasing awareness on medical advancements by sharing our vast knowledge gained over two decades of extensive experience in most advanced diagnostics, treatments and therapies. The Cardiac Pacing & Hands-on Course will provide scientific knowledge related to up-to-date clinical use of cardiac pacing.” Describing the facilities in all three Hospitals, Dr. Rao further added, “We have a collective wisdom pool of over 30 heart specialists, across three Heart Institutes, with 24x7 availability of cardiologist in each of the three Institutes to handle any heart emergencies. The Institutes are equipped with three fully digital flat panel Cathlabs. We are one of the few centres in India to have an advanced Electrophysiology lab with the latest 3D Cardiac Mapping System.” “We also intend to start a school of Pacemaking here in Hyderabad, which would train cardiologist in advanced techniques in implanting pacemaker.” He added. Dr. V. Rajasekhar, Sr. Cardiologist, Yashoda Group of Hospital, who is also the course director of the workshop said, “The course is based on free-exchange of knowledge amongst medical fraternity. This kind of courses can be premier platforms to carry forward the tradition of excellence, quality, openness, completeness, sharing and fellowship in study of advanced cardiology.” The Yashoda Heart Institutes are further complimented by ultra modern non-invasive tools such as South India’s first High Definition Cardiac PET Scan, Dual Head SPECT Gamma Camera, India’s first Dual source 64 slice CT Scanner with Heart PBV and Multi Range CT Scan with Non-invasive Coronary Scan. These technologies help in identifying coronary heart disease (blockages in arteries of heart), assessing viability of heart muscle after heart attack and predicting the benefit to patients from interventions such as angioplasty and CABGs. Free Arthritis Check-up Camp on the Eve of World Arthritis Day Hyderabad, October 11: Yashoda Hospital, Somajiguda has launched Free Arthritis Check-up and Consultation Camp on the occasion of World Arthritis Day from 8:00am to 12:00pm on 12th and 13th Oct’ 2011. The two-day camp is specially meant for patients suffering from various arthritis problems, such as joint pains, knee pains, post menopausal problems in women, etc. Equipped with all modern state-of-the-art infrastructure and equipment, Yashoda Hospital, Somajiguda provides specialized treatments for any arthritis problems. Patients attending the camp will be examined by a team of Rheumatologists headed by Dr. G. Narsimulu, one of the most renowned Rheumatologists in India, presently a Senior Rheumatology Consultant at Yashoda Hospital. Patients in the camp will be given free consultation and education about diagnosis, prognosis, future options, as well as various modes of treatment options. In addition, patients referred from the camp can avail special discounts on diagnostic tests by just paying a token amount of Rs.50 as registration fee. Talking about the camp, Dr. Narsimulu, Sr. Rheumatology Consultant, said, “Arthritis is a common problem in India and is characterized by severe joint pain, swelling and deformities of the joints. More than 60 million Indians suffer from the problem, which, if neglected, can lead to permanent deformity. He also said, “People of all ages are prone to get joint pains. There are about hundred different causes for these pains and each one requires a different treatment. Rheumatologists are the specialists who treat all types of joint pains. The camp will generate awareness about the importance of early diagnosis and early intervention in rheumatological diseases.” GHMC and Yashoda Hospitals Kick Starts Campaign against Excess Salt Intake 11 November 2011, Hyderabad: Yashoda Group of Hospitals, in association with Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC), today kick started a campaign, ‘Fight the Salt Monster!’ to educate the general public against excessive use of salt in the foods. High salt consumption has been associated with a number of health problems such as high blood pressure, osteoporosis, stomach cancer, obesity, kidney disease and kidney stones. ‘Fight the Salt Monster!’ campaign is the first cohesive step by Yashoda Group of Hospitals and GHMC to create awareness on health problems associated with excessive consumption of salt. The campaign calls on everyone to be wary about the consumption of the salt in light of incontrovertible evidence that high intake of salt is harmful to health. To highlight the ill-effects of excess salt intake on health, Yashoda hospitals has created a character called the ‘Salt Monster’, which depicts a 10-12 feet high salt laden scary monster to enlighten the community against high intake of salt.. Various Salt Monsters will be erected in most high-traffic junctions, islands and centre medians across the city The idea is to make the general people understand that salt is a silent monster lurking everywhere and at everyone’s home Salt, also known as sodium chloride, has sodium in it. Sodium is harmful for health. To be healthy, we require very small amount of sodium. Sodium is available naturally in foods such as diary, some vegetables, seafood, meat and eggs. Changing lifestyle of Indians, in both urban and rural areas, resulted in the increased consumption of packaged, processed and ready-to-eat foods that contain high sodium content. Every day, the average Indian consumes about 30 grams of salt. That is very higher compared to the recommended 6 grams for healthy people by National Institute of Nutrition (NIN), a research organisation under the aegis of Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR). High salt intake leads to high blood pressure over time. High blood pressure is a leading cause of heart attack and stroke – two key reasons for death and illness in India. Speaking on the occasion, Smt. B. Karthika Chandra Reddy, H.W. Mayor GHMC, said, “Salt is a cheap way to make food tastier. While most of us examine the sugar, oil and fat content of the food we eat, very few think about the salt content and the impact it has on our body and health. A majority of Indians are putting themselves at great risk by consuming excessive salt.” Mr. M. T. Krishna Babu, Commissioner, GHMC, who was also present said, “Eating high amounts of salt is linked to high blood pressure which, I know, substantially increases the risk of heart diseases. Reduction in salt intake is beneficial both for people with high blood pressure and those with normal blood pressure. There is every reason to expect that reduced intake early in life will help to avert the age-related rise in blood pressure which is now nearly universally seen”. Elucidating on the urgent need to reduce salt content in foods, Dr. G. S. Rao, Managing Director, Yashoda Group of Hospitals, said, “We have seen growing incidences of heart and kidney diseases in the past few years. We found that salt, or rather the sodium in salt is the main culprit. “The Salt Monster campaign is an initiative to educate the community about the danger of high salt diets. Majority of the salt in diet is hidden in the processed foods and is usually consumed without people knowing it. And, targeting prepared foods is one way to do this. The government should also take a leadership role in getting the food industry to reduce the amount of salt added to processed foods”, he further added. Excessive salt intake is also a risk factor for heart disease, kidney diseases, and stomach cancer and is also a contributor to osteoporosis. Salt reduction should be part of every household and all heath authorities should take up this cause. This will significantly reduce spending on health budgets as well. Yashoda Hospitals Launches Breakthrough Cardiac Surgery Programme in Collaboration with Surgeons from Duke University Hyderabad, 30 November, 2011: Yashoda Group of Hospitals, a leading state-of-the-art multi-specialty hospital at Hyderabad, is now performing an exceptional and rare surgery – Pulmonary Thrombo-Endarterectomy (PTE). The procedure will be performed in collaboration with the surgeons from the world renowned Duke University, USA. This is the first collaboration of its kind to be forged by any healthcare group in India. PTE is a surgical cure for patients suffering from a very rare condition called Chronic Thrombo-Embolic Pulmonary Hypertension (CTEPH). CTEPH is a condition, where a patient suffers from abnormal hypertension (high blood pressure) due to blood clots in the pulmonary artery (the blood vessel that carries blood from the heart to the lungs). Symptoms may develop very gradually and patients may delay seeing a doctor for years. Common symptoms include increased breathlessness, limitation in exercise, fatigue leading to reduced life expectancy. PTE is definitive cure for CTEPH as the existing treatment for it is heart-lung transplantation, which is currently not done in India. Besides, transplantation is quite expensive and include pre-operative risk, the risk of death on the waiting list (due to a shortage of suitable donors), and the possibility of infection or rejection (of the organ) for the remaining life of the patient. Done by an expert, the one-year survival rate with transplantation for CTEPH is 80%, and thereafter declining with each year. In contrast, PTE can be scheduled at the convenience of the patient and is permanently curative. PTE is performed under general anesthesia, which means the patient will be asleep during surgery. The procedure takes 6 to 8 hours, depending on the number and size of the clots and where they are located in the body. The surgery involves the patient to be first cooled to 18° C, then the heart is stopped, the blood circulation in the patient is also stopped and the operation is performed in an expeditious manner. The operation requires surgical skills and precision of the highest standards. Typically, it takes patients about four weeks to fully recover from the surgery. PTE surgery restores and improves lung function and capacity. Post surgery, patients do not suffer from breathlessness, have reduced risk of heart failure and therefore can have a much improved quality of life. The procedure helps prevent right ventricular failure and further pulmonary hypertension as well. In addition, those who suffered earlier from right heart dysfunction often recover in most of the cases. This initiative will bring new hope and improved quality of life to over 25000 patients suffering from CTEPH in India. Eminent surgeons Dr. Duane R Davis, Dr. Lankala Chandrashekar Reddy along with distinguished anesthesiologist Dr. Mark Stafford-Smith, all from the prestigious Duke University Medical Center will be visiting Yashoda Hospitals with their expert surgical team to perform the PTE surgeries. Speaking to media at a press conference here, Dr. G.S.Rao, Managing Director, Yashoda Group of Hospitals said, “CTEPH is a rare and a lethal condition. Our distinctive partnership with Duke University surgeons is part of our commitment to develop an in-depth understanding of this extremely complex surgery and provide CTEPH patients in India a chance of improved survival. The transplant surgeons from Duke University Medical Center are pioneers in treating chronic thrombo-embolic disorder. Duke University Medical Center runs one of the largest PTE programme in the United States, treating several patients every year.” Elaborating on the details of the programme Dr. Rao added, “We are initially conducting two to three surgeries in collaboration with surgeons from the US-based Duke University. We will continue to perform more PTE surgeries after drawing complete knowledge of the procedure from the distinguished experts from the Duke University. Our association will continue and the eminent Duke surgeons will continue to support us should we need their expertise on any complex PTE cases in the future.” Dr. Duane R Davis, Director, Transplant Services, Duke University, said, “We are pleased to collaborate with Yashoda Group to perform PTE procedures. Yashoda Group, we know, has been always at the forefront in delivering world-class healthcare using the most advanced techniques and technology. Very few hospitals perform PTE due to lack of required experience and expertise. This deprives all the CTEPH patients a chance of better survival. We are pleased to note that Yashoda Group is willing to perform these surgeries for the benefit of CTEPH patients in India. Our association with Yashoda, I am sure, will be complimentary to each other.” Dr. Lankala Chandrashekar Reddy, Transplant Surgeon, Duke University Medical Center, said “PTE still remains an uncommon procedure in the world. This is partly due to the fact that CTEPH is even now the most improperly diagnosed or an under-diagnosed condition. Usually patients suffering from CTEPH show signs of heart failure, shortness of breath or come in for heart stroke. Pulmonary embolisms are mis-diagnosed very frequently. It usually is not diagnosed until a person is referred for pulmonary hypertension or lung transplant.” Dr. Mark Stafford-Smith, Director, Adult Cardiothoracic Anesthesia, Duke University Medical Center and Dr. A. Ram Mohan, eminent cardiothoracic surgeon from Yashoda Hospitals were also present. About Yashoda Group of Hospitals Yashoda Group of Hospitals is a healthcare leader with 3 successful, fully independent, super-specialty Hospitals at Secunderabad, Malakpet and Somajiguda with a nursing school and college attached to each hospital. The Group also operates 3 successful Cancer Institutes and 3 Heart Institutes all equipped with the most advanced equipment to facilitate round-the-clock emergency services. From a small clinic in 1989, Yashoda Group has now evolved as a centre of excellence in medicine providing the highest standards of medical treatment to all sections of the society. Today, the infrastructure of the group include of over 2000 beds, 700 specialist doctors, 2,100 nurses and 4,500 paramedical and other support staff. Yashoda Group of Hospitals treats over 5 lakh people annually - more than any other private healthcare organisation in the state. About Duke University Medical Center, USA Established in 1930, Duke University Medical Center is one of the world's premier centers for medical education, clinical care and research. Now, more than 75 years later, the Duke University School of Medicine is consistently ranked among the top 10 hospitals in the US. As a world-class academic and health care system, Duke University School of Medicine has been transforming medicine and health through innovative scientific research, rapid translation of breakthrough discoveries, advocating and practicing evidence-based medicine to improve community health and to eliminate health inequalities. For further details, please contact: Mr. Ashoka Varma 98499 99578. Pavan Kumar 99592 88894 Yashoda Hospitals brings Colour into the lives of Paediatric Cancer Survivors on World Cancer Day Police Commissioner, Mr. AK Khan Presides Over the Event as Chief Guest Hyderabad, 3 February, 2012: This World Cancer Day Yashoda Group of Hospitals organized a unique painting and fun workshop aptly named “Colours of Courage” at NTR Gardens. Colours of Courage is a special fun-filled workshop for children who have fought against cancer to find happiness and health. The workshop was organized exclusively for paediatric cancer survivors from Yashoda Cancer Institute. Mr. A. K. Khan, IPS, Commissioner of Police, Hyderabad presided over the workshop as a Chief Guest and interacted with all the brave warriors. Mr. A. K. Khan said that he was extremely happy to have been a part of Colours of Courage as it suitably salutes the fighting spirit of these children. He congratulated all the brave children for having shown tremendous courage to combat and conquer cancer successfully. Every year, about 45,000 children are diagnosed with cancer in India. In the developed countries close to 80% of the children with cancer are cured (Source: Indian Journal of Cancer). This can be done through a holistic approach for cancer treatment. Regular interaction, 24/7 availability for any query; and a positive rapport with the patients and their families can go a long way in curing cancer. Colours of Courage displays the commitment of Yashoda Cancer Institute to engage with patients and support them even after recovery. The programme not only stresses on the immediate need to address childhood cancer, but also focuses on infusing hope into the lives of the patients. The aim is to help and motivate the afflicted patients and their families to better cope with the disease and treatment processes. Towards this goal, Yashoda Cancer Institute launched a Cancer Helpline (040-67232323) last year to meet psycho-social needs of patients & their families. Speaking on the occasion, Dr. G. S. Rao, Managing Director, Yashoda Group of Hospitals, said, “Cancer cure for children should be a priority in India. Our goal in conducting this art workshop is to create awareness on the prevalence of childhood cancer in India. This workshop is an attempt to share the children’s feelings and expressions of how cancer has touched their lives. Such programmes go a long way to humanizing the medical experience for patients and their families. It is our sincere endeavour to bring hope and cheer into the lives of these tiny tots who fought against all odds to survive cancer at such a young age. We hope that these paintings will showcase the children’s experience with cancer and enhance the understanding of those who view it.” Dr. M. Babaiah, Chief Oncologist, Yashoda Cancer Institute who was also present at the event said, “In India, we need to concentrate more on the preventable and curable cancers which constitutes about 40-45% of all the cancers. These cancers include oral cancers, head and neck cancers, and gynaecological cancers. Creating awareness on cancer amongst the people is a must to effectively control and cure this menace. Simple preventive measures like quitting smoking, alcohol and performing routine Pap smear (for women) can help achieve this goal. “ “Lots of advances have taken place in treating cancers. Today, Yashoda Cancer Institute holds a record in curing cancer using latest technologies. Our Institute was the first centre in Asia to initiate RapidArc treatments. We have done over 2000 successful treatments using this technology. We are also the first centre in South India’s to have High Definition PET with 4D CT, which identifies tumour as small as 2 mm. Besides, we also hold the record of being the first to have treated lung cancer using ‘Stereotactic Body Radio Surgery’, the latest future treatment for lung cancer” he added. About Yashoda Cancer Institute Yashoda Cancer Institute is a comprehensive center for treatment of cancer in India. The institute is visited by more than 10,000 patients from all over the country and abroad. Apart from cancer treatments, YCI also conducts and hosts several screening programmes for both men and women for early detection of cancers. The institute boasts of highly skilled and experienced team of specialists in various sub-specialities of oncology, all under one roof. The institute is equipped with modern, state of art infrastructure both for treatment as well as diagnosis of cancer, at par with the best cancer centers in the world. The Department of Radiation Oncology is equipped with Asia’s first RapidArc, highly sophisticated treatment planning systems, respiratory gating devices and modern stereotactic surgery facilities. The institute is well known for academic training for oncologists as well as large number of students and fellows. Accomplishments of Yashoda Cancer Institute:
Yashoda Cancer Institute is part of Yashoda Group of Hospitals, the largest corporate healthcare group in Andhra Pradesh operating three successful, fully independent, super-specialty hospitals. Started way back in 1989 as a small clinic in Hyderabad, by Dr. G. Surender Rao, Yashoda Group has come a long way since then, with three hospitals at Secunderabad, Malakpet and Somajiguda and three cancer institutes. For further details, please contact: Ashoka Varma – 98499 99578 |
