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Fortis Healthcare organizes free OP screening for flood victims

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Free outpatient screening for three days at Fortis Malar, Adyar and Fortis Hospital, Arcot Road Screening under 5 major disciplines and free medicines to beneficiaries
Fortis Arcot Road to conduct medical camps.

Fortis

Chennai: Fortis Healthcare has extended its caring hands to the victims of the recent torrential rains and flooding that has altered the landscape of Chennai in the past few weeks. Fortis Malar Hospital, Adyar is conducting free outpatient screening in the disciplines of Dermatology, Paediatrics, Internal Medicine, Obstetrics & Gynaecology and Orthopaedics. The screening camp has started on 8th Dec’15 and will continue till 10th Dec’15, at the hospital premises in Adyar. Anybody can walk-in and have a preliminary screening done for them in theses three days. The hospital will also provide prescribed medicines free of cost to the needy patients.

This initiative will particularly benefit the neighbourhoods of the hospital that are in the vicinity of the Adyar river, which flooded a major part of the city throwing normal life out of gear, and the Buckingham Canal that runs along Thiruvanmiyur, Indira Nagar and Gandhi Nagar areas. The devastating floods have also created conditions where the general public is exposed to the spread of various water borne diseases, as sewage water has mixed with rain water and has stagnated for weeks, apart from accidents caused due to severely damaged roads.

Apart from this, the hospitals are already conducting outreach camps at various areas in the city for the past few days. Wherein, the doctors along with their medical support team are visiting severely affected parts of the city, screening patients for diseases and providing medicines, free of cost then and there.

Fortis Arcot Road, Vadapalani will be conducting free medical camps for 3 days from Dec 09 – 11. Apart from this, two other mobile medical camps will be set up at Tambaram, Mudichur. Each camp will be led by 4 Doctors, 7 nurses & 3 paramedics. Ambulance services will also be provided to the needy.

Advanced therapy at Fortis Hospital gets 26-year-old National Champion back on her feet

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Diagnosed with severe stress injury and immense pain in the knee area, the 26-year-old doctor and young National Pole Vaulting Champion had to give up her athletic training. Sports medicine specialists at Fortis Hospitals conducted advanced procedure and got her back on her feet.

Fortis

Bengaluru: Cutting edge technology and expertise in the realm of sports medicine is changing the way sports related injuries are treated. At Fortis Hospitals, doctors are at the forefront in helping sportspersons realise their full potential by giving specialised therapy for any injury or health setback.

Through the advanced techniques and in-depth knowledge available to them, sports medicine specialists at Fortis Hospital in Bangalore helped a city-based national pole vaulting champion, who was suffering from severe pain and discomfort due to an internal knee injury, get back on her feet. The sports medicine team at the hospital used a combination of targeted radiotherapy and stem cell medicine to successfully treat the sportswoman.

DIAGNOSING THE CONDITION

An all-round achiever, Dr Khyati Sharad Vakharia not only excels in sports but was also adjudged outstanding student while passing out of medical school in 2013. But nothing had prepared her for the painful and limiting knee condition that she developed about two years ago.

Khyati has been an impressive gymnast for the last four years and has also represented India in Pole Vaulting championships. This meant that she was dedicated to a disciplined and strenuous training regime. Two years ago, she started experiencing pain around the front portion of her left knee joint, which she ignored initially thinking it was nothing serious. But over the months when her pain aggravated so much that she was limping and forced to stop training for a year, her mother was worried and advised her to see a doctor.

She consulted an orthopaedician who did some initial tests and a MRI revealed that she was suffering from Patellar Tendinitis with Hoffa’s Pad thickening. The patellar tendon is the structure lying below the kneecap (patella) which attaches it to the shinbone and these muscles allow the knee to extend or straighten. In this condition, there is build up of tension in the area, caused by overuse and strain on the knee cap. Also called jumper’s knee, it is commonly seen in most sportsmen and more commonly in sportswomen. She had also developed thickening of the fat pad (a mass of fatty tissue that lies below the kneecap), which causes excruciating pain in the front part of the knee.

Following the diagnosis, she was referred to Dr P C Jagadeesh, Consultant Arthroscopy & Sports Medicine, Fortis Hospitals.

“When she came here, Khyati was limping and could not climb stairs. She was using the support of her right leg to walk. A detailed examination including stress extension test of the knee revealed tenderness under the kneecap and we diagnosed it as a condition called Chondromalacia, which had not been picked up by the MRI earlier. To confirm the diagnosis, arthroscopy was done which revealed severe damage to the cartilages,” said Dr Jagadeesh.

Chondromalacia is a condition where the cartilage on the under-surface of the kneecap deteriorates and softens. This condition is common among young, athletic individuals, but may also occur in older adults who have arthritis of the knee.

TREATMENT AT FORTIS

Dr Jagadeesh and his team chalked out an extensive treatment plan for Khyati. Keyhole surgery (Arthroscopy) was carried out with the use of Radio Frequency Ablation (RFA) to trim out and smoothen the damaged cartilages. RFA is a procedure wherein plasma energy is produced by a radio wave over a small area which helps in removing cartilage fraying or burn nerve tissue, thereby decreasing pain signals from that specific area,” explained Dr Jagadeesh.

The Tendinitis was treated by administering PRP (Plasma Rich Protein) injection to the tendon under ultrasound guidance. This is a type of stem cell therapy that helps rejuvenate the injured part of the knee and speeds up the healing process. This type of therapy helps sportspersons get back in form fast.

“As a doctor, my understanding of my ailment was far better than a lay person who may suffer similar injuries. But the greater advantage was that I was able to undergo treatment by a Sports medicine specialist. Compared to a regular orthopaedician, his understanding of the sport, assessment and treatment was far superior,” said Khyati, who also underwent physiotherapy and rehabilitation sessions advised by the doctor after her surgery. This helped in strengthening her knee muscles and sensitising the nerves around the knee.

Now, she is up and running and getting ready to go to the United States for training, so that she can live her sporting dream.

Fortis Hospitals initiates ‘Clean Hands Save Lives’ campaign

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Fortis Hospital

Bengaluru: Fortis Hospitals initiated the “Clean Hands Save Lives” campaign as part of their Corporate Social responsibility (CSR) to motivate people to improve their hand-washing habits to enhance their quality of life.

As a part of the “initiative, hand hygiene classes were held at The South School, JP Nagar, and Fortis Hospital, Bannerghatta road where about 400 school children and walk-in patients were actively trained on hand hygiene as a part of the campaign.

The students were briefed on the importance of washing their hands with soap at regular intervals and specifically before and after eating food. A concise audio visual presentation explaining the different steps and methods to wash hands was also screened specially for the children at the event. Authorities from Fortis spoke to the children on the benefits of maintaining hygiene of hands.

It is estimated that washing hands with soap and water could reduce diarrheal disease-associated deaths by up to 50%. A large percentage of foodborne disease outbreaks are spread by contaminated hands. Appropriate hand washing practices can reduce the risk of foodborne illness and other infections and save many lives. Hand washing can reduce the risk of respiratory infections by 16%.

Complex surgery saves boy from losing his kidney

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12-year-old suffering from congenital condition was advised to get his kidney removed. Fortis doctors came to his rescue by repairing the problem through an advanced technique and avoided removal of damaged kidney

Tanish Guin

Bengaluru: When Tanish Guin’s parents took him for a routine medical check-up as part of a school admission process, little did they know that the results would leave them shattered.

The family from Murshidabad, about 230 kms from Kolkata, could not come to terms with the fact that the 12-year-old was suffering from a congenital condition that was damaging his kidneys. They received another shocker, when doctors whom they consulted in Kolkata told them that the only solution was neprectomy (removal of one of the kidneys).

Desperate, they travelled all the way to Fortis Hospitals, Bangalore and their prayers were answered as the urology team at Fortis ruled out kidney removal and conducted a complex procedure called Laparoscopic Pyeloplasty to correct the problem.

THE DIAGNOSIS

“As part of the medical check up, the family doctor did a physical examination and found a lump in the lower part of the left abdomen. Ultrasound tests revealed that both the right and left kidneys were not functioning properly. We rushed Tannish to a private hospital in Kolkata and were shocked when the doctor said that his kidney needs to be removed. We were really disturbed about our son’s health and wanted to look at other alternatives,” says Tanish’s father, who works in a bank in Murshidabad.

The worried father searched the net for possible solutions and came across Fortis Bangalore and Dr Keshavamurthy as one of the best urologists in India. They saw a flicker of hope and immediately brought the child here.

“When they came to us, Tanish and his parents were extremely apprehensive and worried as they did not want his kidney to be removed. We conducted various tests including a DTPA scan, a test used to check function of kidneys as well as find out if the problem is related to the obstruction of the urine flow in the ureters / bladder. Tanish was diagnosed with bilateral PUJ (Pelviureteric junction) Obstruction present at birth, a condition which affects urine flow and is caused when there is a narrowing of area between the ureter (the tube that drains urine from the kidney to the bladder) and the part of the kidney called the renal pelvis. Urine can build up and damage the kidney as a result). This condition is seen in about 1 in 50 children,” explained Dr Mohan Keshavamurthy, Consultant Urologist and Transplant Surgeon at Fortis Hospitals.

TREATMENT

Dr Keshavamurthy assured Tanish’s parents that his kidney would be saved and an operation to remove the obstruction and restore urine flow would be done. In June, the urology team led by the doctor performed the first of a two part surgery.

“Tannish’s left kidney was severely damaged and his renal function had dropped to just three per cent. The right kidney was also compromised but not as much as the left. We performed a minimally invasive reconstructive procedure known as Laparoscopic Pyeloplasty on the left side and put a stent at the site to drain urine from the kidney until the surgery heals. In a few weeks, the kidney function improved to 12 per cent and is slated to improve even further. In August, left stent was removed and Laparoscopic Right Pyeloplasty was performed. The boy has recovered remarkably and once he is well, he can take part in any physical activities including playing a sport,” he added.

Laparoscopic Pyeloplasty is an effective way to correct narrowing or scarring where the ureter (the tube that drains urine from the kidney to the bladder) attaches to the kidney through a minimally invasive procedure. Endoscopic technique does not require a surgical cut on the skin. Instead, a small instrument is placed into the urethra. This allows the surgeon to open the blockage from the inside. Scar tissue is removed from the blocked area and the healthy part of the kidney is connected to the healthy ureter.

According to Dr Keshavamurthy, this is a complex procedure done in very few centres in India needs expertise and advanced medical infrastructure. Compared to conventional open surgery, laparoscopic pyeloplasty results in less post-operative pain, a shorter hospital stay, earlier return to daily activities.

For Tannish’s parents, the procedure and care at Fortis seems like a godsend. “I want to go back home and play with my friends as I am feeling fully alright,” says Tanish.

Fortis brings La Femme – it’s comprehensive and exclusive women’s health and wellness facility to Bengaluru

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Centre will offer high end services covering Obstetrics, Gynaecology, General Surgery, Neonatology, Infertility & Cosmetology- all focused on women

fortis_la_femme

Bengaluru: Fortis Healthcare Limited (Fortis), today, launched La Femme, a comprehensive and distinctive boutique hospital for women offering a holistic range of medical services catering to all stages of a woman’s life, at Richmond Road, in the heart of Bengaluru.
Fortis La Femme has been conceptualised keeping in mind contemporary women and the multiple roles they play. It aimsto be their chosen healthcare partnerby offering top notch clinical care, state of the art facilities and infrastructure and trained and experienced staff in a warm and nurturing environment. This facility is the second of its kind in the Fortis network; the first La Femme, in New Delhi, has earned a formidable reputation for itself over the last decade in providing personalized, tailor made, healthcare solutions for women.

Dedicating the facility to the service of women, Mr. Bhavdeep Singh, CEO, Fortis, said, “Fortis La Femme, Bengaluru, extends the brand taking forward the legacy of its predecessor in New Delhi, which has earned a formidable reputation for itself in addressing every dimension of healthcare for women. This centre clearly recognizes that a woman needs specialized medical care in a nurturing and comforting environment and we will go the extra mile to deliver that promise.”

Focused on ‘Making Strong Women Stronger,’ La Femme gifts women medical care matching international standards through a pool of clinical specialists, superlative nursing care and efficient hospital staff who are equipped to manage all patient needs with empathy and warmth. The 70-bed women’s health and wellness facility, located at Richmond Road in the heart of Bengaluru, occupies nearly 70,000 sq. ft of space and has a variety of rooms to suit all needs, including general wards, twin, single and deluxe rooms and presidential suites.

Launching the facility, famed Bollywood actress, Ms. Shilpa Shetty Kundra, said, “The core belief behind this centre is that every woman is special and deserves the best medical care. Beauty, health, happiness – every medical need of the forward thinking woman on the go – is taken care of at Fortis La Femme.”

This specialty tertiary care hospital covers every stage of a woman’s life from birth, adolescence, motherhood, to menopause and beyond. Doctors at Fortis La Femme believe in a holistic approach that encompasses staying healthy and feeling good. The hospital staff has been specially trained to manage all medical situations related to women with empathy and warmth. The centre takes an integrated approach to women’s health and covers every medical aspect in Obstetrics, Gynaecology, Neonatology, Anaesthesia, General & Laparoscopic Surgery, Cosmetic Surgery, Genetic and Foetal Medicine. The centre has a unique department catering to the holistic birthing care needs of a woman, Mamma Mia, which complements the Fortis La Femme brand, offering a range of complementary services like Lamaze classes, pre and postnatal fitness and yoga, massage therapy and fertility counselling.
The following medical services are available in the facility:

1. Beauty and cosmetology including facelift, rhinoplasty, liposuction, eyelids, breast reduction, breast augmentation, breast lift, tummy tuck and body lifts.
2. Dermatology
3. Dental care
4. Birthing
5. Antenatal care
6. Post natal care
7. Genetic &Foetal medicine
8. Neonatal care
9. Infertility treatment
10. Preventive medicine including health check-ups
11. General and laparoscopic surgeries
12. Gynaecological surgery
13. Gynaecological cancer diagnostics and surgical treatment.

Fortis Malar Hospital achieves significant milestone with over 50 successful heart transplants to its credit

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Fortis Malar Hospital

Chennai: The Fortis Center for heart failure & transplant has successfully completed over 54 heart-transplants, 12 long-term LVAD’s and 45 Veno arterial ECMO’s for critical heart failure. The center is also credited with India’s first successful implantation of Heartmate II LVAD and HVAD mechanical artificial heart pumps and has been the first, to successfully use ECMO to resuscitate patients from cardiac arrest and subsequently implant a long term LVAD or do a heart transplant. The Centre has also undertaken numerous inter-state heart retrievals for transplantation and has also performed the largest number of Paediatric heart transplants in the country, including one on a tiny infant of 2 years weighing just 6 Kg. The current transplant outcomes are excellent with a one year survival rate of over 90 % in such critically ill patients.

Expressing his deep appreciation for Fortis Malar at having accomplished this momentous feat, Bhavdeep Singh, CEO, Fortis Healthcare, said, “This is truly a great milestone. Our teams of highly accomplished doctors have done pioneering work in the field and have excelled in their endeavor to treat complex heart ailments having performed the largest number of successful heart transplants not only in the country, but in all of Asia. Thanks to their efforts Fortis Malar today is regarded as a landmark institution for cardiac care that is recognized far beyond Indian shores. I commend the entire team for their dedication and passion and we look forward to see them reach greater heights in the future.”

Hailing the stupendous team effort, Dr. K R Balakrishnan, Director, Cardiac Sciences, Fortis Centre for Heart Failure and Transplant, at Fortis Malar, said, “Chennai has seen a tremendous growth in transplants with the support of a diverse group of committed people including Organ Donors and their families, the Organ Registry committee, the Airport Authority of India, The Chennai Police who have changed the face of Organ Transport forever with the ‘Green Corridor’ and the Clinical excellence from Fortis Malar Hospital. Over the years, Chennai has also fine-tuned the crucial logistics necessary for successful heart transplantation resulting in excellent clinical outcomes. We are currently the leaders in heart transplantation in the entire country and in Asia. The majority of patients who can benefit from our advanced therapy are still not aware of the facilities available right here in India. Our goal therefore is to provide the highest quality of patient-centered care so that many more patients can benefit from the interdisciplinary approach, enormous talent and the multi-skilled resources within our team”, said

“Heart Failure is one of the most prevalent conditions globally, and there are about 2 million new cases in India alone every year with at least a third of them requiring advanced therapy to survive. Shockingly, 30-40% of them succumb within a year of diagnosis due to non-availability of appropriate care at the right time. With copious and wide ranging experience in handling heart failure patients, we continue to explore new frontiers and extend the limits of Cardiac Care as we establish this facility as one of the biggest stand-alone Cardiac institutions in the world. We are also amongst the few hospitals in the country that offer specialised treatment in the field of Paediatric Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery, Heart Transplant and Electrophysiology”, said Dr. Suresh Rao K. G, Chief of Cardiac Anesthesia and Critical Care at Fortis Malar.

Tamil Nadu has become the leading State for organ transplants in the country with its model being hailed as the best. The awareness about organ donation is quite high in Tamil Nadu and the statistics have been consistently high for the State over the last few years. As per the experts, though India’s population stands at 1.2 billion, only 0.08 percent of the people give consent to donate their organs. In the West, 10-20 percent of the population were ready donors. Infrastructure has now improved and there is dramatic improvement in organ donation which still needs a major push.

Successful heart transplants are a growing phenomenon in the country. Chennai alone has conducted 90% of successful procedures.

Fortis launches working mothers’ guide to breastfeeding

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The booklet, Breastfeeding for Working Mothers, gives valuable tips to help working women continue breastfeeding while they work and support their right to a safe and friendly home and workplace

Left to Right : Dr. Prakash Vemgal, HOD Neonatology & Paediatrics, Renowned theatre personality Arundhati Nag, Parimaladevi, Consultant Obstetrics & Gynaecologist, Joyce Jayaseelan, Counsellor and lactation consultant, Dr. Anita K Mohan, Consultant Gynaecologist & Obstetrician at Fortis Hospitals

Left to Right : Dr. Prakash Vemgal, HOD Neonatology & Paediatrics, Renowned theatre personality Arundhati Nag, Parimaladevi, Consultant Obstetrics & Gynaecologist, Joyce Jayaseelan, Counsellor and lactation consultant, Dr. Anita K Mohan, Consultant Gynaecologist & Obstetrician at Fortis Hospitals

Bengaluru: The WHO, UNICEF and Breastfeeding Promotion Network of India (BPNI) has called for concerted global action to support women to combine breastfeeding and work. Whether a woman is working in the formal, non-formal or home setting, it is necessary that she is empowered in claiming her and her baby’s right to breastfeed. Fortis Hospitals has always endeavored to promote the importance of breastfeeding among expectant mothers and help them to do it the right way.

In keeping with the theme of World Breastfeeding Week (August 1-7) declared by the World Alliance for Breast Feeding Action (WABA), ‘Breast feeding and work – let’s make it work,’ the Fortis team has initiated a campaign to create awareness about the need to support and empower a working woman to breastfeed her baby.

Left to Right : Dr. Prakash Vemgal, HOD Neonatology & Paediatrics, Renowned theatre personality Arundhati Nag, Parimaladevi, Consultant Obstetrics & Gynaecologist, Dr. Anita K Mohan, Consultant Gynaecologist & Obstetrician, Joyce Jayaseelan, Counsellor and lactation consultant at Fortis Hospitals

Left to Right : Dr. Prakash Vemgal, HOD Neonatology & Paediatrics, Renowned theatre personality Arundhati Nag, Parimaladevi, Consultant Obstetrics & Gynaecologist, Dr. Anita K Mohan, Consultant Gynaecologist & Obstetrician, Joyce Jayaseelan, Counsellor and lactation consultant at Fortis Hospitals

Renowned theatre personality Arundhati Nag launched the book ‘Breastfeeding for Working Mothers’ authored by lactation expert Mrs Joyce Jayaseelan and Dr. Anita K Mohan, Consultant Gynaecologist & Obstetrician, The Nest, Fortis Hospitals, Bannerghatta Road. The booklet gives invaluable tips to working mothers on the importance of breastfeeding, the best ways to do it while working, how they can adequately breastfeed their little ones exclusively for six months despite starting work and how to optimise the facilities in the workplace to breastfeed their baby.

The booklet is also helpful in suggesting ways to express and store breast milk, using a breast pump, breastfeeding in public and how working mothers can handle the stress of home and workplace with the additional responsibility of caring for their newborn.

“Through this book we want to reiterate that mother’s milk is the most important food for the newborn and is superior to any other nutrient that might be given to the baby. The book helps expectant mothers prepare for breastfeeding and introduces them to the importance of initiating it within an hour. Helping a working mother integrate productive work and breastfeeding practice is a complex task that needs diverse strategies and support from various quarters. The working mother should be given valuable information and has to be encouraged to breastfeed her baby in a safe and caring environment, whether she is at home or the workplace,” explains Joyce Jayaseelan, counsellor and lactation consultant at Fortis Hospitals.

The WHO and UNICEF jointly launched the breastfeeding promotion programme a couple of decades ago and WABA and the Government of India has taken this forward by having its own programmes under the BPNI (Breast Feeding Promotion Network Of India). The campaign aims to promote maternity protection with much stronger maternity entitlements, and hopes to initiate more country actions on improving national laws and practices. It also creates awareness about the working woman’s right to breastfeed and calls for more other and breastfeeding-friendly workplaces.

“Working mothers have to be supported to help them breastfeed their baby with an aim to bring down the Infant Mortality Rate which is still quite high in India. This will happen if employers make an effort to become mother and breastfeeding friendly and implement supportive practices to enable the woman to breastfeed,” says Dr Anita K Mohan, consultant obstetrician & gynaecologist at Fortis Hospitals.

The hospital is organising a week-long programme to observe World Breastfeeding Week. The various activities include fun and learning workshop for fathers-to-be on how to take care of their little one, how to change a diaper, correct positions to hold the baby and on how they can be a source of support to their wives, training programme on Optimal Infant and Young Child Feeding (IYCF) Practices, on the basis of WHO Guidelines for nurses. Other programmes include talks for employees and spouses, apartments and corporates on fit mothers and responsible parenthood from Aug 3-5 and a poster competition on breastfeeding and work and quiz for employees.

Fortis launches exclusive andrology clinics in Bangalore

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The specialised medical facility has highly qualified doctors, who are equipped to address common male sexual health problems

Fortis

Bangalore: It is estimated that one in every 10 Indian men suffers from impotency and the growing trend in stress and lifestyle-related disorders has also spurred an increase in sexual health related problems in the male population.  With an aim to provide better care in the area of man sexual health and address common andrology-related issues through their expertise and state-of-the-facilities, Fortis Hospitals is launching the new MAN Clinic in their hospital premises. The clinics will be started at Bannerghatta Road, Cunningham Road, Rajajinagar and Seshadripuram centres.

Studies have shown that the number of patients diagnosed with conditions such as premature ejaculation (PME) and erectile dysfunction (ED) is steadily increasing and as a consequence almost 20 per cent of marriages in India break because of lack of satisfaction in sexual life. Moreover, many men do not seek medical help owing to myths that abound about sexual health issues.   Contrary to what is normally believed, majority of these problems are a result of physiological causes like diabetes and high BP and can be treated effectively through a variety of methods.

The clinic is a one-of-its-kind medical unit that focuses on providing superior quality treatment for sexual health problems such as Erectile Dysfunction, Premature Ejaculation, Peyronie’s Disease and Micro penis.

“Misinformation and lack of awareness among men about their sexual health is the main reasons why they shy away from seeking help at the right time. Impotence is a condition that affects hundreds of men and diabetes and hypertension are the leading causes of ED in almost half of the male population above 40. Since the causes are usually physiological, it can be treated effectively and the success rate is 80 – 100 per cent,” said Dr. Mohan Keshav Murthy Director- Urology, Andrology & Transplantation, Fortis Hospitals, Bengaluru.It has also to be noted that erectile dysfunction workup can unmask latent cardiac disease in one third of the patients helping them to prevent an emergency room visit in the near future.

He added that the aim of setting up this clinic was to provide the highest standards of andrological treatment for patients who have been suffering silently and don’t know whom to approach. Andrology is the branch of medicine that deals exclusively with disorders of the male sexual and reproductive system.

Some of the medical conditions that will be addressed at the clinic are:

  1. Erectile dysfunction (ED) or impotence – It is sexual dysfunction characterized by the inability to develop or maintain an erection of the penis during sexual activity. Treatment includes counselling, injectable drugs, medications such as Viagra, penile implants or surgery.
  2. Premature ejaculation is uncontrolled ejaculation either before or shortly after sexual penetration, with minimal sexual stimulation and before the person wishes. It may result in an unsatisfactory sexual experience for both partners. It can be treated through relaxation techniques, medication and behaviour therapy.
  3. Peyronie’s disease – It is a connective tissue disorder involving the growth of fibrous plaques in the soft tissue of the penis. Treatment includes medications, surgery and counselling.
  4. Micropenis – This is a condition wherein the person has an unusually small penis. It can be effectively treated through hormone therapy and surgery.
  5. Male factor Infertility such as oligoasthenospermia secondary to varicocele.

Rolls Royces, movies: private India hospitals go luxe for growth

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An exterior view of the Fortis Memorial Hospital is pictured at Gurgaon on the outskirts of New Delhi, India, May 20, 2015. REUTERS/Anindito Mukherjee

An exterior view of the Fortis Memorial Hospital is pictured at Gurgaon on the outskirts of New Delhi, India, May 20, 2015. REUTERS/Anindito Mukherjee

by Zeba Siddiqui & Aditya Kalra, Reuters

Mumbai: Cinemas, Rolls-Royces and rooms so plush they could belong in a five-star hotel: private hospital operators in India are all but rolling out a red carpet to lure affluent locals and tourists to seek medical treatment at their luxe facilities.

Local hospital firms including Fortis Healthcare Ltd , Apollo Hospitals Enterprise Ltd and privately owned Medanta have built or upgraded facilities to tap the top-end of a private healthcare sector industry body ASSOCHAM estimates would grow 20 percent a year from 2013 to become a $125 billion market in two years time.

Overseas rivals including Dubai-based Aster DM Healthcare and ABV Group are also investing in luxury healthcare in India, attracted by strong demand for quality medical care which, due to lower costs and a weaker rupee, they can offer to patients at below-international prices.

“The fact that you actually come for surgery or medical treatment would be an incidental part of the experience,” ABV Group Chief Executive Advet Bhambhani told Reuters.

ABV, due to open a luxury hospital in an upscale Mumbai neighbourhood within two years, plans to provide Rolls-Royce cars to ferry its patients. It plans to invest $78 million and is also looking at refurbishing hotels, Bhambhani added.

An overcrowded and underfunded state healthcare system makes private healthcare the norm for all but the poorest of Indians.

Those wealthy enough to afford it travel to the United States or Singapore for treatment and these are the patients private hospital operators want to keep at home by offering top-notch facilities and Indian doctors who have worked or trained abroad.

At the 450-bed Fortis Memorial hospital near New Delhi, for example, there is an inhouse cinema lounge and a food court. And the rooms at Aster Medcity’s 575-bed hospital in Kerala have warm lighting and hardwood floors intended to give them the feel of a luxury hotel room.

“We feel that in five years time our Aster Medcity and other hospitals that we will set up will enable us to effectively compete with Singapore,” Chief Executive Harish Pillai said.

The hospital operators are also courting medical tourists: visitors who combine surgical procedures with sightseeing, or who let value for money determine where they will seek treatment.

The medical tourism sector is expected to grow to $10.3 billion in 2020, from $2.8 billion now, consultancy PwC says. A 2014 study by consultants KPMG ranks India as the third top Asian destination for medical tourists after Thailand and Singapore, with 25 percent growth a year, outstripping the 16 percent growth in Thailand.

“Medical tourists have a lot of expectations now. The quality is a very critical factor,” said Prashant Hedge, group head of marketing at Wockhardt Hospitals, a unit of one of India’s largest pharmaceutical firms Wockhardt Ltd.

Some 1.2 million medical tourists are expected to visit India by the end of this year, and that number is likely to double by 2020, according to PwC.

Popular treatments for these tourists include bone-marrow transplants, cardiac bypass surgery, eye surgery and hip replacements, KPMG says, and costs are below rival destinations. A hip replacement, for example, can cost $7,000 in India, about $12,000 in both Singapore and Thailand and more than $40,000 in the United States.

“A market is evolving for both high-end clinical care and the hospitality that goes with it,” said Vishal Bali, Asia Head of healthcare at private equity fund TPG Growth, which is planning to invest in healthcare providers in India.

“It’s just the rise of healthcare consumerism.”

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