Participants gather as Fortis Hiranandani Hospital, Vashi’s medical & administrative teams kick-off The Freedom Walkathon 2026, promoting Senior Wellness and Active Ageing

The event was graced by Shri Kamlesh Kumar Gupta (IRS), Commissioner, CGST Audit, Navi Mumbai & Raigad, who has over three decades of experience in public service and administration. Beyond his professional contributions, his journey reflects the values of discipline, commitment and lifelong learning, making his presence at The Freedom Walk a meaningful inspiration for senior citizens embracing an active and healthy lifestyle. The inauguration also witnessed support from Dr Ashutosh Pandey, Facility Director, clinicians, administrators and support staff.
 

Speaking on the occasion, chief guest Shri Kamlesh Kumar Gupta, (IRS), Commissioner, CGST Audit, Navi Mumbai & Raigad, said, “Fitness and discipline are values that stay with us throughout life. My years in public service have reinforced the importance of consistency, resilience and taking responsibility for one’s well-being. Initiatives like The Freedom Walk are a wonderful reminder that staying active and healthy enables senior citizens to continue contributing meaningfully to society.”
 

Designed around the idea that mobility is an important form of independence, the walkathon encouraged older adults to embrace regular physical activity at a pace suited to their comfort. Participants could choose between 3km and 5km routes, both beginning and concluding at Fortis Hiranandani Hospital, Vashi. The event also saw community participation from the Rotary Club of Navi Mumbai and Adhata Trust. The event also featured Zumba and guided warm-up and warm-down sessions to help participants prepare for and recover safely from the walk. Fortis Hiranandani Hospital, Vashi deployed a 65-member medical team, comprising 30 doctors, paramedics, and physiotherapists, along with 35 nurses. Safety measures included physiotherapy stations, mobile medical teams, and pre- and post-event health checks for participants.
 

Going beyond physical activity, the walkathon was designed as a preventive health touchpoint, offering participants access to health screenings and consultations from experts including Dr. Sourabh Kulkarni, Director & HOD-Orthopedics & Joint Replacement, Dr. Soumyan Dey, Director-Urology & Uro-Oncology and Dr. Prashant Bhamare, Director-Obstetrics & Gynecology. The consultations covered important aspects of senior health, including bone and joint care, urology, women’s health and other age-related concerns. Through this initiative, the doctors aimed to encourage early identification of potential health risks, provide timely guidance and empower seniors to stay active, healthy and independent.
 

At the initiative, Dr. Sourabh Kulkarni, Director & HOD – Orthopaedics & Joint Replacement, Fortis Hiranandani Hospital, Vashi, Navi Mumbai, said, “Maintaining mobility is one of the most important aspects of healthy ageing. Staying active within one’s comfort level and seeking timely medical advice can help seniors preserve movement, balance and confidence, allowing them to continue their daily activities independently.”  
 

Highlighting the importance of preventive care for age-related health concerns, Dr. Soumyan Dey, Director – Urology & Uro-Oncology, Fortis Hiranandani Hospital, Navi Mumbai, said, “Many urinary health concerns among older adults tend to be ignored or discussed only when symptoms become severe. Creating an accessible platform where seniors can interact with specialists encourages early diagnosis and timely care, which can significantly improve comfort and overall well-being.”
 

Further emphasising the need for proactive healthcare among senior women, Dr. Prashant Bhamare, Director – Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Fortis Hiranandani Hospital, Vashi, Navi Mumbai, added, “Preventive consultations provide an opportunity to identify age-related health concerns early and enable seniors to continue leading active, healthy and independent lives. Encouraging open conversations around health is an important step towards improving overall well-being among older adults.”
 

Reflecting on the hospital's role in driving such community health efforts, Dr. Ashutosh Pandey, Facility Director, Fortis Hiranandani Hospital, Vashi, Navi Mumbai, said, “For close to two decades, Fortis Hiranandani Hospital has been a part of this community, and the patients we've served over the years have shaped how we think about their evolving healthcare needs. Healthy ageing is not only about managing illness; it is equally about preserving mobility, confidence and independence for as long as possible. It is this understanding of our senior patients that prompted The Freedom Walk, an opportunity to encourage them to make movement a regular part of their lives while also connecting with specialists in an accessible and comfortable setting. The response to the initiative has been encouraging and reinforces the need for more community-led preventive health programmes for our seniors.”
 

By bringing together fitness, preventive healthcare channels and community engagement outside the conventional hospital setting, Fortis Hiranandani Hospital, Vashi, reinforced its commitment towards promoting healthy ageing and empowering senior citizens to take charge of their well-being.

About Fortis Healthcare Limited   
Fortis Healthcare Limited is a leading integrated healthcare delivery service provider in India. The healthcare verticals of the company primarily comprise hospitals, diagnostics, and day care specialty facilities. Currently, the company operates 36 healthcare facilities (including JVs and O&M facilities) across 12 states and union territories. The Company’s network comprises over 6,000 operational beds (including O&M beds) and 400 diagnostics labs. www.fortishealthcare.com
 

About IHH Healthcare (“IHH”)
IHH is a leading multinational healthcare provider shaping the future of care. Driven by our aspiration to Care. For Good., we unite medical excellence and innovation, pushing boundaries through our trusted brands such as Acibadem, Gleneagles, Fortis, Island, Mount Elizabeth, Pantai, Parkway and Prince Court. Across 10 countries, including Malaysia, Singapore, Türkiye, India and Greater China, our 70,000-strong team delivers world-class excellence every day, within and beyond our 140 healthcare facilities, including more than 80 hospitals. Our comprehensive services span the full healthcare continuum, from primary and ambulatory to quaternary care, complemented by diagnostics, imaging, rehabilitation, telehealth and home care. In partnership with our stakeholders, IHH is advancing value-based care, building a sustainable healthcare ecosystem and creating meaningful impact, as we work towards our vision to become the world’s most trusted healthcare services network. www.ihhhealthcare.com

Preventive Health Platform & Precision Health OS

Project Serotonin's Preventive Health Platform offers modular, ready-to-deploy infrastructure to operationalize preventive care at scale. It creates a connective layer that brings diagnostics, genomics, blood biomarkers, wearable data, clinical records, and practitioner insight into one model of care. It helps healthcare institutions move beyond isolated interventions toward a coordinated approach that supports individuals before disease progresses rather than after its onset.

The Platform has been designed to complement existing healthcare infrastructure, not compete with it. Hospitals and clinics continue to practice medicine through their established clinical pathways, while Project Serotonin adds a structured prevention layer supporting risk stratification, protocol design, patient engagement, monitoring, and behavior change, without asking clinicians to change how they practice or hospitals to trade treatment revenue for prevention.

The need for change has become increasingly evident. According to the World Health Organization, non-communicable diseases account for nearly 75 percent of all deaths globally. In India, where non-communicable diseases often present three to ten years earlier than in developed nations and multimorbidity has increased dramatically over the past three decades, a recent EY–FICCI assessment concluded that appropriate preventive interventions could reduce hospitalizations by 20 to 30 percent.

Advances in genomics, blood biomarkers, imaging, wearable technologies, and artificial intelligence have significantly expanded the volume and diversity of health information available to clinicians. Yet most healthcare institutions continue to use these datasets in isolation, limiting their ability to build a longitudinal understanding of an individual's health and leaving preventive care fragmented and difficult to scale.

At the core of the Platform is Project Serotonin's proprietary Precision Health OS, an orchestration engine that evaluates each individual's genetic predispositions, biomarker trajectories, wearable trends, lifestyle patterns, pharmacogenetic considerations, and clinical history as one unified health profile. The Precision Health OS incorporates safeguards for contraindications, interactions, and escalation pathways, alongside anonymization, encryption, and role-based access controls.

This intelligence is translated into the SRTN Precision Daily Operating System (SRTN-pDOS), an individualized care framework that converts complex biological information into structured, practitioner-guided protocols across two care formats: foundational preventive care and therapy-adjunct protocols addressing specific health areas such as gut and cardiovascular health.

These SRTN precision protocols draw on an evidence base of more than 44,000 stratified clinical studies and have been refined through real-world pilots. They span nutrition, supplementation, physical activity, sleep, stress management, and other modifiable health behaviors. Recommendations are delivered through the SRTN App and supported by care concierge teams and health coaches who help individuals sustain adherence over time. WHO evidence has documented adherence rates as low as 28 percent for some regular preventive therapies in developed countries, underscoring the challenge of sustaining long-term engagement. Project Serotonin's engagement architecture is designed to address this gap.

"We are at an inflection point in human health. Project Serotonin is built for the Medicine 4.0 era, which is defined not by how much data we collect, but by how intelligently we connect it," said Dr Ashwat Visvanathan (PhD), Head - Partnerships and User Outcomes, Project Serotonin. "Healthcare has invested heavily in digitizing records and expanding diagnostics. The next frontier is enabling a continuous understanding of every individual. We built Project Serotonin to help healthcare providers move from episodic treatment to plug-and-play precision prevention, without disrupting the systems and clinical expertise they already have."

The Platform connects twelve integrated systems that have traditionally functioned in isolation, from diagnostics, genomics, and wearable intelligence to a clinician console, Rx Intelligence screened against more than 2,600 drugs, patient engagement, fulfillment, adherence coaching, and operational management. Institutions can deploy the complete Platform or adopt modular capabilities, determining their own pace and scope of adoption.

About Project Serotonin

Project Serotonin is a preventive health technology company based in San Francisco and Bengaluru, India, with the conviction that peak health can be achieved through precision science and technology. Built over ten years of R&D, the company offers a ready-to-deploy, tenth-generation Preventive Health Platform with a proprietary Precision Health OS, powered by deep-learning algorithms that integrate genetics, blood biomarkers, nutrition, lifestyle, wearable data, and behavioral metrics.

The company conducts extensive real-world pilots for every protocol before release and continuously optimizes outcomes for individual users. Its multidisciplinary team of scientists and engineers has invested more than 300,000 hours in research and development spanning micronutrient quantification, formulations, dosages, frequency, combinations, exercise, sleep, fasting, diet, and lifestyle protocols.Project Serotonin's mission is to make measurable, personalized preventive health accessible to millions through trusted health and wellness partners.

Mandara Women's Wellness by HiLITE Group

Speaking on the launch, P. Sulaiman, Chairman, HiLITE Group, said "Mandara represents a meaningful step for HiLITE Group as we extend our commitment into healthcare and wellness. This launch strengthens our long-term vision of scaling women-centric healthcare infrastructure in India, and Mandara is just the beginning of that journey.” 

“Mandara is a reflection of our belief that true progress must include the health and well-being of women at every stage of life. Mandara, more than an expansion of our portfolio, it is an extension of our purpose. We are taking a meaningful step into women’s health,” said Ajil Muhammed, CEO of HiLITE Group.

Situated near Calicut University, the property features 20 independent, IoT-enabled private cottages categorized into Signature Private, Executive, and Wellness options. These serene living spaces incorporate integrated environmental and health sensors designed to support focused, unhurried recovery in complete privacy and complete comfort. Under the leadership of Dr. Azhar Mubarak, CEO of the Healthcare Wing at HiLITE Group, Mandara is structured to transform postnatal recovery and long-term restorative health for women across every stage of life.

“The way a society cares for its women says everything about the future it is building,” said Dr. Azhar Mubarak, CEO of the Healthcare Wing at HiLITE Group. “Mandara Women’s Wellness became a reality when we asked why women in India shouldn't have access to world-class, dedicated wellness experiences right here at home. Every detail the space, the therapies, the conversations are intentionally crafted around women so they can heal and rejuvenate,” he added.

Mandara structures its clinical and wellness programming around six primary life stages to provide complete continuity of care. The retreat offers foundational Women's Wellness for everyday vitality, Prenatal Wellness for guided physiological support during pregnancy, and specialized Postnatal Wellness for mother and newborn recovery. Additionally, the retreat provides Menopausal Wellness to assist with hormonal transitions, Preventive Women's Wellness focused on early intervention and health optimization, and dedicated Geriatric Care designed to support healthy aging and mobility.

Therapeutically, Mandara pairs advanced medical recovery technology with traditional healing modalities to ensure comprehensive healing. Its modern infrastructure features Hyperbaric Oxygen Chambers for cellular recovery, HiFEM Pelvic Strength Chairs for non-invasive core rehabilitation, Infrared Therapy Beds, and Terahertz Bioresonance Energy Therapy. These technologies operate alongside classical Ayurvedic treatments, all customized using personalized herbal formulations. The retreat integrates an AI-driven clinical spa, naturopathic detox pathways, postpartum-safe Pilates, aquatherapy, and dietitian-guided therapeutic culinary menus prepared specifically to boost immunity. 

Postnatal care forms the core operational priority at Mandara, offering a dedicated framework that serves mother and baby simultaneously in a safe environment. A 24/7 baby nursery and infant spa, fully staffed by qualified medical professionals, allows new mothers dedicated time for recovery, therapy, and restful sleep with full reassurance. Complementing this is a specialized Mother’s Lounge featuring zero-gravity recliners and a supportive community space, alongside daily educational workshops covering lactation guidance, infant CPR training, newborn care, and postpartum mental wellbeing to build lasting confidence.

For booking inquiries, clinical consultations, or further details regarding residential retreat programs, visit www.mandarawellness.in/contact or call +91 99612 00055.

Fortis Escorts Faridabad Launches Faridabad’s First Comprehensive Lung Failure Clinic

The clinic will offer end-to-end management for patients with advanced lung failure, including comprehensive disease evaluation, optimisation of medical therapy, and assessment of eligibility for lung transplantation. Eligible patients will receive structured pre-transplant counselling, detailed clinical work-up, and seamless post-transplant follow-up in collaboration with the transplant specialists. In addition, patients will have access to advanced pulmonary function testing, bronchoscopy and interventional pulmonology procedures, pulmonary rehabilitation programmes, nutritional counselling, sleep evaluation, non-invasive ventilation support, and personalised patient education. By bringing together respiratory physicians, transplant specialists, rehabilitation experts, and allied healthcare professionals, the clinic aims to improve clinical outcomes, enhance quality of life, and provide continuity of care for patients living with advanced respiratory diseases.

Dr Govini Balasubramani, Director, Lung Transplant & Advanced Lung Failure, Gleneagles Hospital, Chennai (a Fortis Network Hospital) added, “We are witnessing a steady rise in patients with advanced lung diseases, driven by multiple factors including air pollution, tobacco exposure, occupational hazards, infections and an ageing population. Unfortunately, many patients reach us only when their lung function has deteriorated significantly. The Lung Failure Clinic has been established to bridge this gap by providing comprehensive evaluation, optimisation of medical therapy, pulmonary rehabilitation and, where appropriate, timely assessment for lung transplantation.”

Speaking on the launch, Dr Ravi Shekhar Jha, Director, Pulmonology & Sleep Medicine, Fortis Escorts Hospital, Faridabad said, “As pulmonologists, we are seeing more patients presenting with severe respiratory impairment, often at a stage when treatment options become limited. Through the Lung Failure Clinic, we aim to provide timely access to multidisciplinary expertise, personalised treatment plans and advanced therapies, while identifying patients who may benefit from lung transplantation before they become too sick or develop contraindications for transplant.”

Dr. Ragunanthan Narayanaswamy, M.S. (Orth.), DNB, MRCS (Edin), FRCS (Ortho), CAS (UK), Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon, Arthroscopy, Knee Preservation & Replacement, Sports Injury Specialist
 

A Global Honour Rooted in Indian Innovation

Recognition on the global stage is seldom the result of a single breakthrough. More often, it is the culmination of years of clinical experience, scientific research and an unwavering commitment to solving real-world challenges. That journey has now brought Rathimed Speciality Hospital, Chennai, international recognition for its pioneering work in personalised kinematic knee replacement.

Dr. Ragunanthan Narayanaswamy has been invited as a guest speaker at the prestigious Personalized Arthroplasty Society (PAS) Annual Meeting in Montreal, Canada—one of the few Indian orthopaedic surgeons to receive this distinction. His presentation will showcase an indigenous surgical innovation developed in Chennai that is helping redefine personalised knee replacement for patients with advanced arthritis. The team's research has also been accepted for presentation at an international arthroplasty conference in China later this year, further reinforcing the global relevance of this work.
 

Addressing an Indian Clinical Challenge

The hospital's journey into kinematic knee replacement began in 2016 after studying the pioneering work of Dr. Stephen Howell, whose philosophy centred on restoring a patient's natural knee anatomy instead of relying solely on conventional mechanical alignment.

While the concept proved successful, Indian patients presented a unique challenge. Many seek treatment only after advanced arthritis has resulted in severe deformity and bone loss, making it difficult to accurately recreate the knee's original anatomy. Recognising this unmet need, Dr. Ragunanthan Narayanaswamy and his team embarked on years of research to develop a solution specifically tailored to Indian patients.
 

A 'Make in India' Breakthrough

Years of research led to the design, development and clinical validation of precision surgical instruments that accurately recreate the patient's original joint surface, enabling highly precise implant positioning in all three dimensions.

Developed through close collaboration between clinicians and engineers, this indigenous innovation restores the knee's natural kinematics while demonstrating how Indian medical research can solve complex clinical challenges with home-grown technology. More than a surgical advancement, it represents the successful coming together of medicine, engineering and innovation to improve patient care.
 

Transforming Patient Outcomes

Clinical experience with personalised kinematic knee replacement has shown encouraging outcomes. Patients have experienced reduced pain, less blood loss, faster rehabilitation and improved functional mobility when compared with conventional approaches. By restoring each patient's natural anatomy, the technique aims to deliver a knee that feels and functions more naturally after surgery.
 

“When we introduced kinematic knee replacement in 2016, many questioned the approach because it challenged conventional thinking. But we believed in the philosophy. As we continued, we saw patients recover faster, experience less pain and blood loss, and achieve better functional outcomes. Every innovation we pursue has only one purpose—to help our patients regain mobility and quality of life,” — Dr. Ragunanthan Narayanaswamy, M.S. (Orth.), DNB, MRCS (Edin), FRCS (Ortho), CAS (UK), Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon. Arthroscopy, Knee Preservation & Replacement, and Sports Injury Specialist.

For Dr. Ragunanthan Narayanaswamy, however, the greatest reward is not international recognition—it is seeing the difference innovation makes to patients. He recalls the experience of a 70-year-old gentleman who recently underwent his second knee replacement surgery.
 

"Just three and a half hours after surgery, he was sitting comfortably, smiling and moving both knees without pain. Moments like these remind us why we continue to innovate. Every refinement ultimately translates into a better experience and faster recovery for our patients."
 

Recognition Beyond Borders

Today, Rathimed Speciality Hospital is also training orthopaedic surgeons in personalised kinematic knee replacement while making its indigenous instruments available for wider adoption. What began as an effort to address a uniquely Indian clinical challenge has evolved into an innovation that is now receiving international recognition.

As this 'Make in India' innovation gains global attention, it stands as an inspiring example of how Indian clinical expertise can contribute meaningfully to the future of orthopaedic surgery worldwide.

To learn more, visit rathimedhospital.com.

'Symposium - Lifestyle & Diet: Nutrition, Wellness and Clinical Practice' organized by Department of Physiology, AIIMS, New Delhi in association with Food Future Foundation

Addressing the inaugural session of the national symposium "Lifestyle & Diet: Nutrition, Wellness and Clinical Practice", organised by the Department of Physiology, AIIMS New Delhi, in association with the Food Future Foundation (FFF) under the aegis of the Coalition for Food Systems Transformation in India (CoFTI), Dr. Srinivas welcomed the participation of experts from diverse disciplines, noting that collaborative dialogue is essential to address India's evolving nutrition challenges. He called for nutrition, diet and healthy lifestyle education to be appropriately integrated into medical curricula, saying it is essential to prepare future healthcare professionals and strengthen preventive healthcare. He also urged stakeholders to work together to strengthen nutrition and lifestyle education and contribute practical recommendations for a more holistic policy approach to improving the nation's health.

The symposium brought together leading clinicians, nutrition scientists, medical educators, regulators and policymakers, including Dr. Nikhil Tandon, Director, AIIMS New Delhi; Dr. Govind Makharia, Associate Dean (Research), AIIMS New Delhi; and Mr. Pawan Agarwal, Founder and CEO, Food Future Foundation and Former CEO, FSSAI, to discuss how emerging scientific evidence should reshape medical education and clinical practice. A major highlight was the release of the textbook Nutrition, Diet & Lifestyle: Learning and Teaching Diet, Food, Nutrition & Lifestyle in Clinical Practice, edited by Dr. Raj Kumar Yadav, Dr. Alexander Thomas, and Mr. Pawan Agarwal and developed by a team of nutrition and lifestyle experts led by senior nutritionist Parisksha Rao.

In the foreword to the book, Dr. Srinivas writes that "scientific evidence now leaves little doubt that food, nutrition and lifestyle are among the most powerful determinants of health," yet these subjects receive "far less attention in undergraduate medical education than they deserve." Describing nutrition as "an essential clinical competency for every doctor," he said the textbook integrates physiology, nutrition and lifestyle medicine to help future physicians understand how everyday food and lifestyle choices influence health, disease and patient care, and expressed confidence that it would become "a catalyst for strengthening nutrition and lifestyle medicine across medical education in India."

Dr. Ratna Sharma, Head, Department of Physiology, AIIMS, said advances in nutrition science and lifestyle medicine require a corresponding transformation in medical education. Dr. Raj Kumar Yadav, Professor of Physiology and lead editor of the textbook, said doctors must increasingly combine medical treatment with nutrition and lifestyle counselling as part of routine patient care. Prof Sheffali Gulati and Prof Vandana Jain delivered their talks focusing paediatric age group dietary therapy in epilepsy, autism, obesity, and metabolic dysfunction. Prof Naval K Vikram discussed skeletal muscles and metabolic health. Dr Ritesh Netam presented his research about high fat diet, obesity and neuroinflammation.

A key scientific session examined healthier food reformulation and the role of monosodium glutamate (MSG) in reducing sodium without compromising taste. Dr. Miro Smriga, Chairman, International Glutamate Technical Committee (IGTC), shared international experiences demonstrating how evidence-based reformulation is helping improve public health in several countries. Prof HN Mallick discussed about MSG and Dr Trina Sengupta presented findings from a recent systematic review published in Frontiers in Nutrition, concluding that MSG is safe for the general population, including infants, pregnant women and lactating mothers.

Many renowned faculty, clinicians & scientists were present during the symposium and actively participated including Prof Girija Prasad Rath (AIIMS), Prof Rajesh Khadgawat (AIIMS), Dr SubbaRao MG, (Scientist G, National Institute of Nutrition, ICMR), Ms Anuja Agarwala (Senior Dietitian), Prof Vimal Katiyar (IIT, Guwahati), Prof Jamuna Prakash (University of Mysore), Prof Komal Chauhan, Prof Seema Puri, Prof Eram S Rao (University of Delhi) and Prof Pulkit Mathur (Lady Irwin College).

Mr. Pawan Agarwal, Founder and CEO, Food Future Foundation, said the symposium marks the beginning of a larger national effort to bridge the long-standing gap between nutrition science and clinical medicine.

The symposium concluded with a broad consensus that strengthening nutrition and lifestyle medicine in medical education is essential for building a more preventive, patient-centred and wellness-oriented healthcare system in India.

Kauvery Hospital and Chennai Airport inaugurated the HeartSafe Initiative by commissioning 13 AEDs (Automated External Defibrillators) at the airport

The initiative was inaugurated in the presence of Mr. Raja Kishore, Director, Chennai International Airport, and Dr Manivannan Selvaraj - Founder and Managing Director Kauvery Group of Hospitals, along with senior officials from the airport and Kauvery Hospital.

Kauvery Hospital has been operating 24x7 emergency medical services at Chennai International Airport through four clinics strategically located at T1 Arrival, T2 Departure, T2 Security Hold Area (SHA), and T4 Arrival. The service is staffed by a dedicated team of 49 healthcare professionals, including emergency physicians, nurses, paramedics and support staff, who provide prompt medical assessment, stabilisation and emergency care to passengers, airport personnel, airline crew and visitors. The clinics are further supported by two fully equipped ambulances stationed at the airside and cityside, ensuring rapid emergency response and timely patient transfer when required.

Each clinic manages approximately 80-100 patients a month, bringing the total to an estimated 320-400 patients across all four clinics. These include medical emergencies, onboard in-flight emergencies, walk-in consultations, and patients requiring stabilisation and transfer to higher centres. On average, 5-10 of these patients present with cardiac-related conditions, most commonly chest pain, palpitations and high blood pressure, underscoring the critical need for rapid cardiac response capabilities within the airport environment.

The addition of AEDs further strengthens this comprehensive emergency care ecosystem, ensuring that life-saving intervention is available during the critical first few minutes of a sudden cardiac arrest. 

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Raja Kishore, Director, Chennai International Airport, said: “Chennai International Airport is committed to providing a safe and secure environment for every passenger, visitor and employee. The installation of the Automated External Defibrillator is an important step towards strengthening our emergency medical preparedness. We appreciate Kauvery Hospital for its continued partnership through the 24x7 airport medical clinics and for extending its expertise to enhance our capability to respond swiftly during medical emergencies. Together, we are creating an airport ecosystem where timely intervention can help save lives.” 

Speaking about the initiative, Dr. Manivannan Selvaraj, Founder and Managing Director, Kauvery Group of Hospitals, said, “In a sudden cardiac arrest, every minute without treatment reduces the chance of survival. When high-quality cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is started immediately and an AED is used within the first few minutes, survival rates improve significantly. Through the HeartSafe Initiative, we have installed 13 AEDs to enable faster life-saving intervention. 

However, emergency preparedness is about more than just installing AEDs. It requires the right people, the right training and the right systems. At Chennai International Airport, Kauvery Hospital’s 24x7 emergency clinics are staffed by experienced emergency physicians, skilled nurses and trained paramedics, supported by advanced medical equipment. The addition of AEDs further strengthens our emergency response capability, helping create a safer environment where passengers, visitors and airport personnel can be assured of rapid, life-saving care when every second matters.” 

The installation of the AED reflects the shared commitment of Chennai International Airport and Kauvery Hospital to creating a safer environment for millions of passengers, employees and visitors who pass through the airport each year. Beyond providing immediate access to advanced emergency equipment, the initiative also underscores the importance of increasing public awareness about recognising cardiac arrest, performing CPR and using an AED until professional medical help arrives. 

Aster DM Quality Care (Combined Proforma) Performance for Q1 FY27 

• Revenue for Q1 FY27 grew by 20% YoY to INR 2,597 Cr

• Operating EBITDA grew by 30% YoY to INR 576 Cr; (excl. Kasargod up by 31% Cr).

• Operating EBITDA margin at 22.2%, increased by 170bps YoY 

• Excl. Kasargod Op. EBITDA margin stood at 22.4%, increased by 190bps YoY 

• Kasargod Hospital achieved Monthly EBITDA break-even within 9th month of operations 

• ROCE stood at 22.9%, increased by 246 bps YoY

• The merger became effective on July 1, 2026

Dr. Azad Moopen, Executive Chairman, Aster DM Quality Care

Commenting on the merger, Dr. Azad Moopen, Executive Chairman, said, “The coming together of Aster DM Quality Care marks a defining milestone in our nearly four-decade journey of building world-class healthcare institutions. We aspire to create one of India’s leading integrated healthcare platforms, bringing together Aster, CARE, KIMS India, and Evercare into a unified network with over 10,800 beds across 28 cities, positioning Aster Quality Care among the top three hospital chains in India. Over the coming years, we expect to expand this network to more than 15,000 beds."

Varun Khanna - Group Managing Director & CEO, Aster DM Quality Care

As we embark on this new chapter, our philosophy is simple: greater scale, greater clinical excellence, and greater impact. By combining exceptional medical talent with advanced technology, artificial intelligence, robotics, research, and innovation, we will redefine the future of healthcare delivery.
 

Above all, remains to provide world-class, compassionate, and affordable healthcare, while advancing medical education, research, and innovation. Our purpose is to touch and improve millions of lives across India and beyond - “*We’ll Treat You Well”.

Commenting on the performance for Q1 FY27, Mr. Varun Khanna, Managing Director & Group CEO, said, “The recent merger and formation of Aster DM Quality Care, marks a significant moment for the companies, our patients, our doctors and clinical staff, and for the industry overall. In this new chapter we are committed to keeping our core and value system unchanged, with continued focus on patient care, enabling doctors and hospital operations through technology, and best-in-class clinical outcomes. 

Aster DM Quality Care on a combined proforma basis achieved a revenue of INR 2,597 Cr, a growth of 20% YoY, with an EBITDA Margin expansion of +170 bps at 22.2%, on the back of an operating EBITDA increase of 30% to INR 576 Cr. We had the privilege of serving 2 million people in our OP and IP in Q1 FY27, which is 13% more people than in the previous year. Our focus in the coming quarters is on disciplined execution - enhancing patient care, unlocking the full potential of our combined platform, and driving long-term value through operational excellence.”
 

Aster DM Healthcare Key Highlights for Q1 FY27

• Revenue for Q1 FY27 grew 22% YoY to INR 1,311 Cr

• Operating EBITDA (ex-Kasaragod) grew 30% YoY to INR 279 Cr in Q1 FY27 

• Operating EBITDA Margins (ex-Kasaragod) stood at 21.7% in Q1 FY27 Vs. 20.0% in Q1 FY26 

• Normalised PAT1 (ex-Kasaragod) grew 46% YoY to INR 131 Cr in Q1 FY27

• ARPP IP rose 10% YoY to INR 1,30,352 in Q1 FY27

• Total patient volume grew by 16% YoY 

• Matured hospitals saw a revenue growth of 19% YoY in Q1 FY27

• Emerging hospitals revenue grew by 95% YoY in Q1FY27

Quality Care Key Highlights for Q1 FY27

• Revenue for Q1 FY27 grew 19% YoY to INR 1,287 Cr

• Operating EBITDA grew 32% YoY to INR 299 Cr in Q1 FY27 

• Operating EBITDA Margins stood at 23.2% in Q1 FY27 Vs. 21.1% in Q1 FY26

• ARPP IP rose 9% YoY to INR 1,44,064 in Q1 FY27

• Total patient volume grew by 10% YoY 

• Matured hospital registered revenue growth of 18% YoY in Q1 FY27

• Emerging units noted revenue growth of 47% YoY in Q1 FY27

About Aster DM Quality Care
Aster DM Quality Care Limited is one of India’s leading integrated healthcare providers, formed through the merger of Aster DM Healthcare Limited and Quality Care India Limited. The merged entity brings together four leading healthcare brands - Aster DM Healthcare, CARE Hospitals, Evercare and KIMSHEALTH, creating a scaled and diversified healthcare platform with a network of 39 hospitals across 28 cities and over 10,890 beds. With a strong presence across South and Central India, the merged entity will deliver comprehensive healthcare services spanning primary, secondary, tertiary and quaternary care, supported by centers of excellence across key specialties including oncology, cardiac sciences, neurosciences, gastro sciences, orthopedics, nephrology, organ transplantation, mother and child care, and critical care.For more information about us, please visit www.asterqualitycare.com 
 

Disclaimer
Certain statements in this document that are not historical facts are forward looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties like government actions, local, political or economic developments, technological risks, and many other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated by the relevant forward-looking statements. Aster DM Quality Care Limited will not be in any way responsible for any action taken based on such statements and undertakes no obligation to publicly update these forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances. Quality Care numbers are indicative and subject to statutory audit adjustments. Proforma numbers for merger entity are also subject to finalization and audit of the merged accounts. Actual amounts, losses or impact on net profit could materially differ from those that have been estimated. In addition, other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those estimated include harmonization of accounting policies and practices.

Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), Manipal

The three-day conference will address emerging pathogens, antimicrobial resistance (AMR), pandemic preparedness, disease surveillance, diagnostics, therapeutics, vaccination strategies, and one health approaches. Given India's growing influence in global health research, the conference will provide a valuable platform for Indian scientists, public health experts, and students to engage with internationally recognised specialists and showcase the nation's growing scientific achievements.

Speaking about the conference, Sonja Schmid, Senior Editor, Nature Communications, said, "Infectious diseases remain a major global health challenge, shaped by factors ranging from climate change to antimicrobial resistance. This conference convenes distinguished experts from various disciplines to examine innovative solutions and help shape the future of infectious disease prevention, diagnosis, and treatment."

Lorenzo Righetto, Senior Editor, Nature Health, added, "There is a pressing need for innovative and actionable ideas to tackle pandemic-level threats from existing and emerging pathogens. We hope this conference will elevate these issues on the global public health agenda and inspire meaningful scientific dialogue."

Dr Sharath K. Rao, Vice Chancellor, MAHE, said, "The challenges posed by emerging pathogens and antimicrobial resistance demand collaborative, interdisciplinary solutions. MAHE is honoured to host this global dialogue, which brings together experts from across the world to strengthen scientific partnerships and advance equitable, sustainable solutions for global health."

The conference programme includes keynote lectures, panel discussions, roundtables, poster presentations, and networking sessions. Topics will cover disease surveillance, antimicrobial resistance, diagnostics, vaccination, climate change, pandemic preparedness, and equitable access to healthcare innovations.

The programme includes internationally renowned speakers like Alessandro Vespignani (Northeastern University, USA), Elaine Nsoesie (Boston University, USA), Lauren Gardner (Johns Hopkins University, USA), Madhukar Pai (McGill University, Canada), Shabir A. Madhi (University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa), and Marion Koopmans (Erasmus University Rotterdam, Netherlands).

Call for Abstracts Open

Researchers from India and around the world are invited to submit abstracts. Selected abstracts will be included in the conference programme, and four outstanding submissions will be shortlisted for oral presentations. Researchers, healthcare professionals, students, and industry stakeholders are encouraged to submit abstracts and register early to attend this landmark international scientific conference.

Abstract submissions are now open: submissions.conferences.nature.com/core/login

About Manipal Academy of Higher Education

Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE) is an Institution of Eminence Deemed to be University. MAHE offers over 400 specialisations across the Health Sciences (HS), Management, Law, Humanities & Social Sciences (MLHS), and Technology & Science (T&S) streams through its constituent units at campuses in Manipal, Mangalore, Bengaluru, Jamshedpur, and Dubai. With a remarkable track record in academics, state-of-the-art infrastructure, and significant contributions to research, MAHE has earned recognition and acclaim both nationally and internationally. In 2020, the Ministry of Education, Government of India, awarded MAHE the prestigious Institution of Eminence status. Currently ranked 3rd in the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) 2025 rankings, MAHE is the preferred choice for students seeking a transformative learning experience and enriching campus life, as well as for national and multinational corporations seeking top talent.

About Springer Nature

Springer Nature is one of the leading publishers of research in the world. We publish the largest number of journals and books and are a pioneer in open research. Through our leading brands, trusted for more than 180 years, we provide technology-enabled products, platforms and services that help researchers to uncover new ideas and share their discoveries, health professionals to stay at the forefront of medical science, and educators to advance learning. We are proud to be part of progress, working together with the communities we serve to share knowledge and bring greater understanding to the world.

Address by Dr. Venkatram M, Director & Public Awareness Rally flagged off by Dr. N Murugesan, Founder Chairman

More than 600 students from the East Coast educational institutions participated in the programme, which combined awareness sessions, interactive discussions and a public rally.

Addressing the students, Dr. M. Venkatram, Director, East Coast Hospitals, spoke passionately about the importance of organ donation. He said that while the world marvels at Artificial Intelligence, robots and space technology, the most sophisticated machine ever created is the human body.

"After our lifetime, the greatest gift we can leave behind is the gift of life. One organ donor can save up to eight lives and improve the quality of life of nearly 100 others through the donation of tissues such as skin, bone, corneas and heart valves," he said.

Dr. Venkatram also shared East Coast Hospitals' experience in advanced kidney transplantation, including leading the team that performed on Puducherry's youngest kidney transplant recipient, and urged students to become champions of organ donation within their own families and communities.

The interactive session concluded with students enthusiastically raising questions, which were answered by Dr. N. Murugesan, Founder Chairman of East Coast Hospitals and Founder of the Dr. Blue India Foundation. Widely regarded as the Father of Nephrology in Puducherry, Dr. Murugesan performed the region's first ever kidney transplant and was instrumental in establishing nephrology and dialysis services in Government hospitals across the region.

Speaking to the students, Dr. Murugesan emphasised that awareness is the first step towards saving lives. He encouraged every student to understand the importance of organ donation and motivate family members and friends to take the Organ Donation Pledge.

He also spoke about his long-standing research on preventive kidney care, which has led to a range of patented low-sodium salt substitutes aimed at helping prevent lifestyle-related kidney, heart and blood pressure disorders.

Organ Donation Pledge forms were distributed to all the participants. Students who successfully motivate family members and friends to take the pledge will receive Certificates of Appreciation from East Coast Hospitals, while the Top Three participants will be recognised with special prizes.

The programme was also addressed by Dr. Rajan, Dean of the East Coast educational institutions, and the medical officer who has shifted to East Coast Hospitals from USA. Their engaging talks, enriched with real-life experiences and inspiring anecdotes, kept the students actively involved throughout the session.

The awareness programme included Dr. N. Murugesan flagging off an Organ Donation Awareness Rally, during which hundreds of students marched through the streets of Puducherry carrying placards and spreading the message that organ donation has the power to give many people a second chance at life.

As one of the leading centres for kidney transplantation in the region, East Coast Hospitals believes that creating awareness about organ donation is as important as performing successful transplant surgeries. Through initiatives such as these, the hospital remains committed to promoting kidney health, encouraging organ donation and helping build a more informed and compassionate society

PlatinumRx Helps Indians Save Crores on Medicines, Expands Access to Quality Branded Generics

Founded in September 2023 by Ashutosh Pandey and Piyush Kumar, IIT and IIM alumni, PlatinumRx was built with a simple mission: to make quality medicines affordable without compromising on safety, efficacy, or trust. Since commencing operations in early 2024, the company has rapidly expanded its reach by offering clinically equivalent branded generic medicines at significantly lower prices than many conventional brands.

For millions of Indians living with chronic conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, thyroid disorders and other long-term illnesses, medicines are a recurring monthly expense rather than a one-time purchase. Over time, these costs can place a significant financial burden on households and sometimes even affect treatment continuity. PlatinumRx addresses this challenge by providing quality-assured branded generic alternatives that help patients lower their medicine expenses while continuing their prescribed treatment without compromising on quality or manufacturing standards.

"Healthcare should never become unaffordable because of medicine costs," said Ashutosh Pandey, Co-founder of PlatinumRx. "For patients managing chronic conditions like diabetes or heart disease, medicines are an essential part of everyday life. Even modest savings on monthly prescriptions can add up to a meaningful difference over the years. Our goal has always been to make quality medicines more accessible and affordable. Seeing our customers collectively save more than Rs. 137 crore while placing their trust in PlatinumRx is a strong validation of that mission. We are only getting started."

PlatinumRx follows a rigorous quality framework by partnering exclusively with WHO-GMP certified manufacturing facilities. The company is also LegitScript certified, reinforcing its commitment to operating with global standards of compliance and patient safety. Unlike conventional procurement-led models, every medicine available on the platform is evaluated and shortlisted by a dedicated team of qualified medical professionals. This ensures that customers receive reliable, quality-assured branded generic alternatives that meet strict safety and manufacturing standards. This medical-first approach is particularly valuable for patients on long-term therapies, where consistent access to affordable medicines plays an important role in supporting treatment continuity.

Alongside affordability, PlatinumRx continues to invest in improving medicine accessibility across the country. The company currently fulfills nearly 60% of orders within 48 hours through its network of nine strategically located warehouses. To further strengthen its nationwide logistics infrastructure, PlatinumRx is adding six new warehouses, enabling faster deliveries and expanding access to affordable medicines across more regions.

"Making medicines affordable is only part of the solution-they also need to reach patients quickly and reliably," said Piyush Kumar, Co-founder of PlatinumRx. "Many patients rely on regular medicine refills for ongoing treatment, making timely delivery just as important as affordability. By expanding our warehouse network, we're strengthening our supply chain to improve delivery timelines and ensure quality medicines are available to more households across India."

About PlatinumRx

PlatinumRx is an India-based branded generic medicine platform founded by Ashutosh Pandey and Piyush Kumar. The company offers quality-assured medicines manufactured in WHO-GMP certified facilities, curated by a team of qualified medical professionals, and operates with LegitScript certification. With a mission to make healthcare more affordable, PlatinumRx helps millions of Indians reduce their medicine expenses by providing trusted branded generic alternatives while ensuring access to safe, high-quality treatments across the country.

For more information, visit: www.platinumrx.in

Kshemavana Naturopathy and Yoga Center has been honoured as the "Premier Wellness Center in Asia" at the Asia Excellence & Leadership Awards 2026, marking a milestone in holistic wellness

The award was presented at the Asia Excellence & Leadership Awards 2026, organised by Insights Success and powered by the Insights Excellence Awards (IEA) 2026, during a grand ceremony held on July 24, 2026, at the Radisson Blu Hotel, Dwarka, New Delhi.
 

Kshemavana Naturopathy and Yoga Center has been honoured as the "Premier Wellness Center in Asia" at the Asia Excellence & Leadership Awards 2026, marking a milestone in holistic wellness

Renowned actress Bhagyashree Patwardhan presented the award as the Chief Guest in the presence of distinguished leaders from the healthcare, education, business, and corporate sectors.

The Asia Excellence & Leadership Awards recognise organisations and visionary leaders across Asia for their excellence, innovation, leadership, sustainability, and significant contribution to society. The recognition is conferred upon institutions that have set new benchmarks in quality, service, and transformative impact within their respective sectors.

Established under the visionary guidance of Padma Vibhushan Dr. D. Veerendra Heggade, President of SDM Educational Society, Kshemavana has emerged as one of India's leading naturopathy and yoga-based wellness destinations. Spread across 23 acres of lush greenery on the outskirts of Bengaluru, the centre offers an integrated approach to healthcare through evidence-based naturopathy, yoga therapy, Ayurveda-inspired lifestyle practices, nutrition therapy, hydrotherapy, physiotherapy, acupuncture, and holistic wellness programmes designed to promote preventive healthcare and sustainable well-being.

Over the years, Kshemavana Naturopathy and Yoga Center has earned national recognition for its patient-centric care, personalised treatment protocols, experienced multidisciplinary medical professionals, state-of-the-art infrastructure, and commitment to scientific, drug-free healing. The institution has successfully helped thousands of individuals manage lifestyle disorders, stress-related illnesses, obesity, musculoskeletal conditions, metabolic disorders, and other chronic health concerns through non-pharmacological and integrative healthcare practices. It has also played a significant role in wellness education, corporate health initiatives, public awareness programmes, and research-driven holistic healthcare.

Receiving the recognition as "The Premier Wellness Center in Asia" reflects Kshemavana Naturopathy and Yoga Center’s unwavering commitment to excellence in holistic healthcare, innovation in wellness delivery, and its continuous efforts to position India's traditional systems of natural healing on the global wellness landscape.

Expressing his gratitude on the occasion, Dr. Narendra K. Shetty, Chief Wellness Officer, Kshemavana Naturopathy and Yoga Center, said, "This recognition is a proud milestone for the entire Kshemavana family. It reflects our unwavering commitment to delivering world-class holistic healthcare rooted in India's timeless naturopathy and yoga traditions while embracing scientific evidence and global standards. We dedicate this honour to our visionary leader, Padma Vibhushan Dr. D. Veerendra Heggade, whose guidance continues to inspire us to make preventive and lifestyle-based healthcare accessible to society. This award motivates us to further strengthen our mission of creating a healthier and happier world through natural healing."

The recognition further reinforces Kshemavana Naturopathy and Yoga Center’s vision of promoting integrative, preventive, and sustainable healthcare, while inspiring greater awareness of naturopathy and holistic wellness across Asia and beyond.

About Kshemavana Naturopathy and Yoga Center
Kshemavana Naturopathy and Yoga Center,  the flagship holistic wellness centre of SDM Educational Society, is one of India's leading destinations for naturopathy, yoga, lifestyle medicine, and integrative wellness. Located near Bengaluru amidst 23 acres of natural greenery, the institution offers comprehensive wellness programmes that combine evidence-based naturopathy, yoga, nutrition, hydrotherapy, physiotherapy, acupuncture, and lifestyle modification therapies. With a strong focus on preventive healthcare, scientific natural healing, and patient-centred care, Kshemavana is committed to empowering individuals to achieve long-term health and well-being through sustainable lifestyle practices.

Dr. Hema Sathish (Dermatologist) and Dr. Sathish (Orthopaedic Surgeon), founders of Healthetc

Indian healthcare, for the most part, has been built to treat disease, not to walk alongside the slow, accumulating decline that precedes it. Preventive care has existed mostly as advice; eat better, sleep more, manage stress without products engineered specifically to make that advice easy to act on every single day.

That is the gap Dr. Hema Sathish and Dr. Sathish Devadoss set out to close, and it is the thread that runs through everything Healthetc. has built since.

Dr. Hema Sathish is a cosmetic dermatologist with her education from the University of Wales and her husband Dr. Sathish Devadoss, an orthopaedic surgeon with his degrees from Dundee university and specialised trainings in Oxford, Germany, Australia etc is the Vice president of Devadoss Multispeciality hospital which is a family run 200 bedded hospital; they keep up with the latest technology like robot surgeries for orthopaedic and several other advanced surgeries. Providing the best of healthcare at affordable prices is what the motto of the family has been which has garnered a lot of good will.

Between the two of them, they were seeing patients from almost every angle of everyday health; skin, hair, bones, joints, hormones, sleep, metabolism, weight. And a pattern kept repeating itself, consultation after consultation. Patients understood exactly what they needed to do. They simply didn't keep doing it.

Out of years of these conversations came Healthetc., the couple's nutraceutical brand, built around a deceptively simple insight: people are far more likely to stick with something they actually enjoy taking. That insight became a chewable, sugar free, vegan gummy format and they have started off with 6 different well researched formulations, each one engineered for a specific, evidence-backed health concern rather than a vague promise of "wellness."

Clinical Validation
Health etc. takes the question of evidence seriously. The brand has registered its clinical studies and every formulation is built around ingredients with documented research behind them. Health etc. holds FSSAI approval across its entire range and is also vegan certified; every batch comes with a Certificate of Analysis (COA), so what is on the label is exactly what is in the product.

And it shows up in the clean-label standards applied uniformly across every product: sugar-free, vegan, gelatin-free, gluten-free, non-GMO, and free from artificial colours. Nothing in the range is positioned as a quick fix.

Perhaps most distinctively, Healthetc. leans into India-specific science rather than importing Western wellness templates wholesale. The diabetic gummy is built almost entirely around Indian botanicals with centuries of traditional use behind them like jamun, mulberry, fenugreek, amla, rather than relying on a single imported "superfood" ingredient. The skin gummy specifically addresses pigmentation, pollution exposure, and barrier damage from air conditioning, concerns far more relevant to Indian skin and Indian cities than to a formula developed for a different climate and a different population.

Beyond Healthetc.: The Ecosystem Behind the Brand
Healthetc. is part of Wedjat Health Solutions Pvt. Ltd., founded by Dr. Hema Sathish and Dr. Sathish Devadoss.

The group also includes Cureka, India’s 1st Preventive Healthcare Platform Curated by Doctors, that offers doctor-recommended products across multiple categories.

TGHC is the group's sensitive skincare brand, built around barrier-friendly formulations for skin types that don't tolerate aggressive, fragrance-heavy products well. It reflects the same clinical-first philosophy as Healthetc., applied to topical skincare rather than ingestible nutrition.

At the centre of it all is Devadoss Multispeciality Hospitals, where Dr. Sathish Devadoss leads the orthopaedic department and Dr. Hema Sathish heads dermatology. The hospital operates across more than 15 specialities and is equipped with some of the most advanced medical technology available in the region, including robotic surgery, a reflection of how seriously the group takes clinical precision, not just in wellness products but in the full spectrum of medical care it delivers. It is this hospital environment, with its constant, unfiltered view of how disease and decline actually present in real patients, that continues to shape how new Healthetc. formulations are conceived and refined.

For two doctors who started out simply trying to get their own patients to stay consistent with their vitamins, the journey from clinic-level frustration to a six-product, nationally distributed range, anchored by a growing ecosystem under Wedjat Health Solutions marks a fairly significant turn.

What hasn't changed is the underlying premise. India's preventive healthcare gap is enormous, and most of it is invisible until it isn't, until the hot flashes become unmanageable, until the bone scan comes back lower than expected, until the blood sugar test crosses a line that can no longer be ignored. Dr. Hema Sathish and Dr. Sathish Devadoss are betting that the right products, built by people who have spent years watching this gap up close, and designed around how people actually behave rather than how they're supposed to behave, can close it one daily gummy supplement at a time.

Doctors at Prayag Hospital successfully performed a complex emergency limb-saving surgery, restoring hand function in a 35-year-old patient following a severe traumatic injury

Mr. Abhimanyu Kumar, aged 35 years, was brought to Prayag Hospital on July 6, 2026, in a critical condition after suffering a deep cut injury to his right forearm. The injury caused profuse bleeding and placed him at an immediate risk of permanent loss of hand function due to extensive vascular and tendon damage.

The patient was immediately assessed by the emergency team, where rapid clinical evaluation confirmed the severity of the injury. Considering the significant blood loss and the complexity of the trauma, the patient was taken for emergency surgery without delay to prevent irreversible damage to the affected limb.

Dr. Chandan Mishra, Consultant General and Laparoscopic Surgeon at Prayag Hospital and Research Centre Pvt. Ltd., successfully performed the emergency limb-saving procedure. During surgery, doctors found complete transection of both the radial and ulnar arteries along with multiple flexor tendon injuries. The surgical team carried out meticulous repair of both arteries and reconstructed the damaged flexor tendons to restore the structural integrity and function of the forearm.

Following the vascular repair, blood flow to the hand was successfully re-established, and satisfactory distal circulation was confirmed before completion of the procedure. The successful restoration of circulation significantly reduced the risk of permanent disability and loss of limb function.

The patient responded well to treatment and made a smooth post-operative recovery under close medical supervision. He was discharged in stable condition with advice for physiotherapy and regular follow-up. Doctors expect early rehabilitation to support the gradual restoration of strength, mobility, and functional recovery of the affected hand.

Mr. Abhimanyu Kumar expressed his gratitude to the doctors, nursing staff, and hospital management for their prompt response, expert surgical care, and dedicated support that helped save the function of his hand.

Dr. Chandan Mishra, Consultant General and Laparoscopic Surgeon at Prayag Hospital and Research Centre Pvt. Ltd., said, "This was a highly challenging vascular and tendon injury where every minute was crucial. Complete transection of both the radial and ulnar arteries, along with multiple tendon injuries, carries a significant risk of permanent disability if not treated immediately. Timely surgical intervention, meticulous vascular repair, tendon reconstruction, and coordinated perioperative care enabled us to restore blood flow and preserve hand function. Such cases highlight the importance of rapid diagnosis and emergency surgical expertise in achieving successful outcomes."

About Prayag Hospital
Prayag Hospital and Research Centre Pvt. Ltd. began its journey in 1995 as Prayag Orthopedic Centre, a dedicated clinic in Sector 29, Noida, founded by Dr. B. P. Singh. Established on the principle of “Sewa Parmo Dharma,” meaning service is the highest duty, the institution has grown with a commitment to compassionate, ethical, and patient-centric healthcare.

Today, Prayag Hospital is a 120-bedded NABH and NABL accredited hospital equipped with advanced medical infrastructure and supported by experienced doctors, nurses, and healthcare professionals. The hospital provides comprehensive services across general medicine, surgery, orthopaedics, emergency care, maternal and child health, and specialized treatments.

Over the years, the hospital has earned the trust of patients through quality healthcare, ethical practices, accessible treatment, and dedicated patient support services. It is also empanelled under various government healthcare schemes and recognized by multiple TPA panels to ensure affordable and accessible healthcare for eligible families.

The Hon’ble Chief Minister of Karnataka, Shri D.K. Shivakumar with the Leadership of Aster DM Quality Care

Aster has significantly expanded its footprint in Karnataka through Aster CMI Hospital, Aster RV Hospital, Aster Whitefield Hospital, and Aster Women & Children Hospital. The company continues to invest in advanced healthcare infrastructure to meet the growing needs of the State.

Speaking after the meeting, Dr. Azad Moopen, Executive Chairman, Aster DM Quality Care, said,  “Karnataka has been a cornerstone of Aster’s growth in India and remains one of our most strategic markets. The State is at the forefront of healthcare innovation, supported by world-class clinical talent and a progressive healthcare ecosystem. Our planned investment of Rs. 1,315 crore reflects our long-term confidence in Karnataka. We remain committed to partnering with the Government of Karnataka to strengthen healthcare infrastructure, expand access to advanced medical care, promote medical education and research, and improve healthcare outcomes for the people of the State.”

Aster DM Quality Care currently operates 39 hospitals with over 10,600 beds and four hospitals in Karnataka with 1,329 operational beds, creating one of the strongest integrated healthcare networks in India and the State. As part of its expansion plans, Aster is developing the 550-bed Aster Hospital, Yeshwantpur, the 460-bed Aster Hospital, Sarjapur, and a 350-bed expansion at Aster CMI Hospital, substantially increasing access to advanced tertiary and quaternary healthcare services in Bengaluru.

During the discussions, Dr. Moopen highlighted Aster’s commitment to supporting Karnataka’s healthcare priorities through investments in healthcare infrastructure, medical education, skill development, employment generation, healthcare technology, medical tourism, research, innovation, and charitable healthcare initiatives.

Mr. Varun Khanna, Managing Director & Group CEO, Aster DM Quality Care, said, “The scale and capabilities of Aster DM Quality Care position us to accelerate the next phase of healthcare transformation in Karnataka. As we continue to strengthen our presence across the State, we aim to make complex and specialised care more accessible while reinforcing Karnataka’s position as one of India’s leading centres for healthcare innovation and medical excellence.”

Ms. Alisha Moopen, Director, Aster DM Quality Care, added, “Our focus extends beyond expanding capacity. We are building an integrated healthcare ecosystem that combines advanced clinical care, digital innovation, medical education, research, and compassionate service. Through these investments, we are committed to delivering world-class healthcare while creating sustainable value for patients, communities, and the State of Karnataka.”

The proposed investment of Rs. 1,315 crore underscores Aster DM Quality Care’s long-term vision of making Karnataka one of its most important centres for clinical excellence, innovation, medical education, and patient-centric healthcare.

About Aster DM Quality Care Limited*

Aster DM Quality Care Limited is one of India’s leading integrated healthcare providers, formed through the merger of Aster DM Healthcare Limited and Quality Care India Limited. The merged entity will bring together four leading healthcare brands - Aster DM, CARE Hospitals, Evercare and KIMSHEALTH, creating a scaled and diversified healthcare platform with a network of 39 hospitals across 28 cities and over 10,600 beds. With a strong presence across South and Central India, the merged entity will deliver comprehensive healthcare services spanning primary, secondary, tertiary and quaternary care, supported by centres of excellence across key specialties including oncology, cardiac sciences, neurosciences, gastro sciences, orthopaedics, nephrology, organ transplantation, mother and child care, and critical care.

*Name change subject to receipt of Certificate of Incorporation pursuant to the merger. Currently named Aster DM Healthcare Limited.

Dr. Vetri Kumar and Mr Syed Hussainy with patients

This milestone reflects growing confidence in an approach that prioritises restoring native knee kinematics rather than simply implanting a prosthesis.

Widely recognised for advancing evidence-based practices, Dr. Vetri believes every patient deserves an implant that respects individual anatomy instead of a one-size-fits-all approach. The patented Evolution® True Medial-Pivot philosophy is designed to recreate the stability and biomechanics of the native knee, enabling patients to return to active lifestyles and, in many cases, almost forget they have undergone knee replacement surgery—an outcome reflected in the increasingly recognised 'Forgotten Joint Score'.

Mr Syed Hussainy felicitating Dr. Vetri Kumar

Unlike conventional knee designs that focus primarily on mechanical alignment, the Evolution® Medial-Pivot Knee reproduces native knee biomechanics by preserving physiologic medial stability while allowing natural rotational movement, supporting improved function, range of motion and long-term implant performance.

"Modern knee replacement is about far more than pain relief. Every knee is unique, and respecting that individuality helps deliver outcomes that feel natural and stable. With nearly 60 million Indians affected by osteoarthritis, many patients seek treatment only after years of pain. Our aim is to help them walk confidently, return to the activities they love and eventually forget they ever had a knee replacement," said Dr. Vetri Kumar.

Dr. Mukesh Parmar, Managing Director & Senior General Manager – India and South Asia, MicroPort Orthopedics, said, “These 300 procedures represent 300 lives transformed through personalised arthroplasty. Dr. Vetri has demonstrated how innovation, backed by sound clinical philosophy, can restore natural knee function and improve quality of life. We are proud to partner with accomplished surgeons like Dr. Vetri, whose commitment to improving patient outcomes is helping shape the future of knee replacement in India.”

Dr. Vetri is also a Founding Member of the Personalised Arthroplasty Society (PAS) in India and an active member of its international community, mentoring surgeons and promoting globally proven techniques. He is now preparing to launch a dedicated Knee & Joint Replacement Centre in Chennai to expand access to advanced joint reconstruction and patient care.

As personalised knee replacement gains momentum worldwide, milestones like this reinforce India's growing leadership in advanced joint replacement, benefiting both patients and the orthopaedic community.

Fortis Mumbai launches ‘Har Ghar Hero’ initiative to build CPR-ready Mumbai with (L-R) Dr Gore, Dr Gaikwad, Dr Singh, Hon. Ms. Hemangini Patil, Dr S. Narayani, Dr Gore & Dr Nabar

The initiative was inaugurated by Hon. Ms. Hemangini Patil, Regional Transport Officer, Thane Region, and Dr. S. Narayani, Business Head – Fortis Hospitals, Maharashtra. They were joined by Fortis Mumbai's leadership team and emergency medicine specialists — Dr. Sandeep Gore (Director, Emergency Medicine, Fortis Hospital Mulund), Dr. Amit Nabar (Director, Emergency & Community Medicine, S. L. Raheja Hospital, Mahim - A Fortis Associate), Dr. Preetam Gaikwad (Head, Emergency Medicine, Hiranandani Hospital, Vashi - A Fortis Network Hospital) and Dr. Sudhir Gore (Head, Emergency Medicine, Fortis Hospital Kalyan), who spoke about the importance of building CPR preparedness beyond hospital settings. The launch was also supported by Dr. Manjeet Singh Arora, Senior Consultant-General Physician, Fortis Hospital Mulund, who has spearheaded CPR trainings in the community for the past two decades, and won multiple accolades for his contribution to community preparedness.

In a sudden cardiac emergency, the first few minutes are often decisive. Through 'Har Ghar Hero', Fortis Hospitals Mumbai aims to bring CPR awareness and training closer to communities, building a wider network of people who are prepared to act until professional medical help arrives. What sets the initiative apart is its scale and reach; it is designed to unite residents from every corner of the city, from South Mumbai to the far suburbs, in a single, sustained movement toward a common goal - a CPR-ready Mumbai.

As part of the initiative, Fortis Hospitals Mumbai will partner with civic bodies, utility and service providers, transport operators, quick-commerce platforms, housing societies, corporate hubs, educational institutions and other community groups to expand CPR awareness across the city. The focus for the coming year would be on equipping 2 lakh Mumbaikars of all ages and backgrounds with essential CPR skills, and building a growing base of trained first responders who can act swiftly in a cardiac emergency, before EMS teams arrive.

Fortis Mumbai will also launch a community perception survey to gauge current levels of emergency preparedness among Mumbaikars, and awareness about application of Basic Life Support (BLS), CPR and use of Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs). These insights that will help identify gaps and shape future training efforts.

Speaking at the launch, Dr. S. Narayani, Business Head – Fortis Hospitals, Maharashtra, said, "With 'Har Ghar Hero', Fortis Mumbai is taking an important step towards making CPR preparedness a community priority. In a cardiac emergency, the first responder is often not a healthcare professional but a family member, colleague, neighbour or passer-by. Our aim is to build a culture where every household has at least one person who knows what to do when it matters most. Through sustained partnerships and community-led training, we hope to create a city that is better prepared to respond to emergencies."

Over the past few years, emergency medicine specialists from Fortis Hospitals Mumbai have collectively trained and certified 1.5 lakh Mumbaikars in CPR, and engaged with 1,000+ housing societies, 350+ corporate set-ups, 300+ colleges and schools, 100+ government bodies and civic institutions, and 600+ NGOs and community groups. Through 'Har Ghar Hero', Fortis Mumbai aims to build a sustained movement around CPR awareness, growing a network of trained citizens who can act as 'Heroes' in the moments when immediate action makes the difference.

To get your workplace or housing society trained and certified, call 022 4111 4111.

About Fortis Healthcare Limited  

Fortis Healthcare Limited is a leading integrated healthcare delivery service provider in India. The healthcare verticals of the company primarily comprise hospitals, diagnostics, and day care specialty facilities. Currently, the company operates 36 healthcare facilities (including JVs and O&M facilities) across 12 states and union territories. The Company’s network comprises over 6,000 operational beds (including O&M beds) and 400 diagnostics labs.

For more information, please visit www.fortishealthcare.com/

About IHH HEALTHCARE (“IHH”)

IHH is a leading multinational healthcare provider shaping the future of care. Driven by our aspiration to Care. For Good., we unite medical excellence and innovation, pushing boundaries through our trusted brands such as Acibadem, Gleneagles, Fortis, Island, Mount Elizabeth, Pantai, Parkway and Prince Court. Across 10 countries, including Malaysia, Singapore, Türkiye, India and Greater China, our 70,000-strong team delivers world-class excellence every day, within and beyond our 140 healthcare facilities, including more than 80 hospitals. Our comprehensive services span the full healthcare continuum, from primary and ambulatory to quaternary care, complemented by diagnostics, imaging, rehabilitation, telehealth and home care. In partnership with our stakeholders, IHH is advancing value-based care, building a sustainable healthcare ecosystem and creating meaningful impact, as we work towards our vision to become the world’s most trusted healthcare services network.

For more information, please visit  www.ihhhealthcare.com

Indo-Africa Cleft Conference Synergy 2026: Excelling Together

The conference brought together surgeons, anesthesiologists, nurses, speech therapists, orthodontists and multidisciplinary cleft care professionals from Smile Train’s two largest regions, reaffirming its commitment to stronger, locally led sustainable healthcare systems through collaboration, continuous learning and knowledge exchange.

Over the past decade, both India and Africa have made significant strides in expanding access to comprehensive cleft care in their own regions. Each region has developed unique areas of excellence shaped by real-world experience and field-led innovation. Indo-Africa Cleft Conference 2026 was designed to bring these learnings together, creating opportunities to exchange proven approaches, adopt best practices and jointly develop solutions that strengthen cleft care across both regions while contributing to Smile Train's global pursuit of ensuring every child born with a cleft has access to safe, timely and comprehensive care.

Speaking on the occasion, Mamta Carroll, Senior Vice President and Regional Director, Asia, Smile Train, said, "Indo-Africa Synergy represents much more than a conference; it reflects how Smile Train believes sustainable change happens. Over the past decade, both India and Africa have built remarkable expertise through locally led program, and today we can learn from one another as equal partners. By sharing knowledge, strengthening skills and co-creating solutions, we are investing not only in healthcare professionals but also in better outcomes for every child born with a cleft. This collaboration demonstrates that when expertise is shared across borders, its impact extends far beyond any one country."

Nkeiruka Obi, Vice President and Regional Director, Smile Train, Africa, added, “India and Africa bring together two of Smile Train’s largest and most experienced programs, each with deep expertise gained over years in providing safe and high-quality comprehensive cleft care within diverse local contexts. In our shared commitment to healthcare equity, this conference offers a valuable opportunity to learn from our experiences, share practical solutions, and innovations, while strengthening capacity of cleft care professionals. By advancing South–South collaboration, we truly can accelerate access to quality cleft care for more children and families in our communities.”

The two-day program featured expert discussions, knowledge sharing and hands-on workshops covering surgical excellence, patient safety and comprehensive cleft care. Participants also exchanged experiences on advocacy, engagement and healthcare system strengthening, recognizing that sustainable cleft care extends beyond surgery to encompass the entire continuum of care.

The conference truly reflects Smile Train's sustainable model of strengthening local healthcare systems by investing in medical professionals through continuous training, mentorship and global knowledge exchange. By fostering collaboration between India and Africa, Smile Train is building stronger local capacity and advancing comprehensive cleft care for children in both regions.

Smile Train programs in Africa began in 2002 and since then, they have spread across nearly 40 countries, transforming the lives of 200,000+ cleft-affected individuals.

Since 2000, Smile Train has supported more than 800,000 free cleft surgeries across India through a network of 130+ partner hospitals. For cleft treatment-related queries or support, please call the India toll-free helpline number: 1800 103 8301.

For more information, please log on to www.smiletrainindia.org.

India's architectural landscape is transforming into a visual beacon of hope as major cities across the nation illuminate their most recognizable landmarks in vibrant Teal Green. Spearheaded by the Fragile X Society India, this massive nationwide campaign is officially underway today to bring Fragile X Syndrome (FXS)—the world's most common inherited single-gene cause of autism and intellectual disability—out of the shadows and into the mainstream public consciousness.
 

The Iconic Taj Mahal Tower in Mumbai lit up on the occasion of World Fragile X Awareness Day 2026
 

The scale of this year's activation is unprecedented. A massive network of corporate partners, medical institutions, and educational hubs are actively participating today. While many iconic buildings are lighting up their massive exterior facades in teal green tonight, others are driving the message home internally right now with dedicated awareness posters, educational standees, and interactive community displays.

Several prominent landmarks and institutions across India joined the global initiative by illuminating their buildings today. Participating locations included the Taj Mahal Tower (IHCL), Planet Godrej and Breach Candy Hospital in Mumbai, City Centre New Town, Salt Lake Kolkata and the Amrit Somani Memorial Center in Kolkata, The Connaught (IHCL SeleQtions) in New Delhi, Apollo Children's Hospital in Chennai, WOW Crest (IHCL SeleQtions) in Indore, Daiwik Hotels in Rameswaram, and educational institutions such as The Cathedral and John Connon Senior School and Thomas House.
 

Alongside the physical illuminations taking place today, Fragile X Society India is breaking new ground in advocacy with the recent release of ‘Fragile’, the first-ever Indian short film dedicated to shedding light on Fragile X Syndrome. Available to stream on the premier digital platform Pocket Films' YouTube channel, the film beautifully and accurately captures the emotional and diagnostic roller-coaster experienced by families navigating the condition.

To ensure the message resonates deeply with the public, the film features a stellar ensemble of mainstream Indian talent, including Rajniesh Duggall, Amruta Khanvilkar, and veteran actor Govvind Namdev. Their powerful performances are bringing critical emotional gravity to a genetic condition that remains deeply misunderstood and frequently misdiagnosed.
 

"For over two decades, our absolute mission has been to ensure that no family walks this path in the dark," said Shalini Kedia, Chairperson and Founder of Fragile X Society India. "An accurate diagnosis doesn't just explain a child's present behavioral challenges; it fundamentally re-charts a family's reproductive future. By lighting up our country's proudest landmarks in teal green today, we are breaking the silence. We are building a nation-wide system of support, recognition, and early medical intervention for the estimated 400,000 affected individuals across India."

Citizens across the country are invited to be part of the movement by visiting the illuminated landmarks in their cities, capturing photos against the teal green facades and sharing them on social media. They can also watch the short film Fragile on the Pocket Films YouTube channel and share it with friends, family and medical professionals, while helping spread awareness by sharing the official Instagram page, @fragilexindia, to encourage conversations around genetic health and autism awareness.
 

Fragile X Syndrome is a genetic condition that causes developmental delays, intellectual disabilities, learning challenges, and behavioral traits often overlapping with autism. Because general awareness remains low, millions of individuals across India remain undiagnosed or misdiagnosed, and countless others are unaware that they are silent carriers of the mutated gene. Simple genetic testing and early clinical intervention can completely transform the quality of life for an affected individual and provide families with vital clarity.
 

Fragile - A film on Fragile X Syndrome Awareness | Social Awareness Short Film: www.youtube.com/watch?v=6qyaRA6bZMw
 

About Fragile X Society India

Founded in 2003 by Shalini Kedia, Fragile X Society India is the country's premier support network dedicated to individuals and families affected by Fragile X Syndrome. The society acts as a critical bridge between families and the medical community, offering vital resources, directing families toward accurate genetic testing, providing professional counseling, and fostering a deeply supportive national community.

Kauvery Hospital Chennai

The individual discovered Kauvery Hospital, while researching advanced treatment options for his heart rhythm condition online. Following a teleconsultation with a senior Cardiac Electrophysiologist, he chose to travel to Chennai for treatment. Throughout his journey, Kauvery Hospital's dedicated International patient Services team provided end-to-end support, including travel coordination, visa assistance, accommodation guidance, and personalized care during his stay.

Dr. Deep Chandh Raja, Senior Consultant & Director of Cardiac Electrophysiology, Kauvery Hospital, said, “Heart rhythm disorders from the lower chambers of the heart lead to unwanted extra beats called Premature ventricular complexes (PVCs) and dangerous conditions called Ventricular Tachycardia. Using advanced 3D mapping technology and intra-cardiac echo imaging, we are able to accurately identify the abnormal electrical circuits causing the arrhythmia and perform precise catheter ablation while preserving healthy heart tissue. This approach improves procedural success, reduces recurrence, and helps patients return to normal life with greater confidence. We are pleased that the patient has recovered well and is doing extremely well following the procedure."

Dr. Aravindan Selvaraj, Executive Director, Kauvery Hospital, said, "Chennai's healthcare infrastructure is a great boon and lifesaver for patients worldwide. We are proud that patients from countries like Poland are choosing Kauvery Hospital for advanced procedures such as VT ablation. Our state-of-the-art Cardiac Electrophysiology facilities and expert specialist team deliver world-class outcomes with compassion and precision. This reaffirms Chennai's position as the Healthcare Capital of Asia."

Kauvery Hospital is equipped with advanced Electrophysiology (EP) infrastructure, including the latest Pulsed Field Ablation, 3D electroanatomical mapping systems and cutting-edge technologies like intra-cardiac echo imaging for diagnosing and treating complex cardiac arrhythmias. These advanced capabilities enable the hospital's Heart Rhythm Services team to perform highly precise procedures with excellent clinical outcomes.

The procedure was completed successfully, and the patient is recovering well. He expressed his heartfelt appreciation for the expertise of the clinical team, the seamless care provided throughout his treatment journey, and the warm hospitality extended by the hospital's International Patient Services team.

The concern lies in the practical implication of this direction. New programmes can move forward only where an NCAHP-approved curriculum is available. Therefore, professions recognised under the NCAHP framework but still awaiting curriculum release may not be open for new programme launch.

This matters because India is simultaneously pursuing a major expansion of its allied healthcare workforce. The policy challenge is not whether regulation is needed. It clearly is. The challenge is how to ensure standardisation without delaying the development of trained professionals required by India’s healthcare system.

Why Standardisation Matters

Standardisation in allied and healthcare education is essential. For years, allied health programmes across India have varied widely in nomenclature, duration, admission eligibility, curriculum depth, clinical exposure, assessment methods and faculty requirements. Such variation can affect graduate competency, professional mobility and public confidence.

The NCAHP Act, 2021 was introduced to create a national framework for regulating education and services in allied and healthcare professions. Its mandate includes institutional assessment, maintenance of professional registers, and promotion of access, research and adoption of scientific advancement.

Competency-based curricula can help align education with defined clinical skills, patient safety standards and healthcare service needs. The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, in collaboration with NCAHP, launched competency-based curricula for ten allied and healthcare professions in April 2025, describing the initiative as a step toward uniformity and quality.

Thus, NCAHP’s intent is appropriate. India needs nationally comparable standards. The concern is not standardisation itself, but whether incomplete curriculum coverage may unintentionally slow workforce expansion.

The Emerging Policy Gap

A. Approved curricula versus recognised professions

NCAHP has released curricula in areas such as Physiotherapy, Optometry, Nutrition and Dietetics, Dialysis Therapy, Radiotherapy Technology, Medical Radiology and Imaging Technology, Anaesthesia and Operation Theatre Technology, Health Information Management, Physician Associates, Medical Laboratory Sciences, Occupational Therapy, Respiratory Technology, Medical Physics and Nuclear Medicine Technology.

These releases are significant, but they do not yet cover the full range of professions recognised under the NCAHP framework. The April 8 communication itself states that the released curricula cover around 28 professions. This leaves several recognised professions outside the current curriculum structure.

This creates a policy gap: a profession may be recognised, but institutions may still be unable to start a new academic programme because the approved curriculum is pending. In effect, legal recognition exists, but educational expansion is paused.

B. Impact on institutions

Universities across India are looking to invest substantial resources in allied healthcare education. These investments include simulation laboratories, skill labs, diagnostic and therapeutic equipment, hospital partnerships, faculty recruitment, digital learning systems and quality assurance processes.

However, institutions may hesitate to invest if they are unsure whether a proposed programme can be launched. This is particularly relevant for private universities, healthcare groups and regional institutions that are willing to build capacity but need regulatory clarity.

Programme launch also requires advance academic planning through Boards of Studies, Academic Councils, statutory approvals, clinical training agreements and admission processes. Uncertain curriculum timelines may therefore delay programme development, reduce student choice and weaken institutional responsiveness to healthcare sector needs.

Implications for India’s Workforce Goals

The April 8 direction must be viewed in the context of India’s broader allied health workforce agenda. In Union Budget 2026, the Government announced plans to upgrade existing allied health institutions, establish new institutions in both public and private sectors, and train one lakh allied health professionals over five years in selected disciplines, including optometry, radiology, anaesthesia, operation theatre technology and applied psychology.

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare’s post-budget consultation on “Scale-up Allied Health Professionals” also focused on adding 1,00,000 Allied Health Professionals over five years. The discussion linked this requirement to demographic transition, non-communicable diseases, healthcare infrastructure expansion and increasing use of advanced medical technologies.

The existing education base is sizeable. The Ministry noted that India has over 500 government institutes offering around 48,000 seats, and about 3,800 private institutes offering more than 3.6 lakh seats, while also acknowledging variation in infrastructure, laboratories, equipment and trained faculty.

These figures show that India requires both expansion and quality improvement. If programme development is limited only to disciplines with released curricula, workforce growth may become uneven. Some fields may expand rapidly, while other recognised professions remain underdeveloped.

In the short term, universities may delay investments and admissions. In the medium term, hospitals may continue to face shortages in specialised technical roles. In the long term, India may struggle to produce the right mix of allied health professionals across disciplines, geographies and levels of care.

This is especially important because modern healthcare depends on allied professionals in diagnostics, imaging, emergency care, operation theatres, dialysis, rehabilitation, radiotherapy, critical care and chronic disease management. If formal education capacity does not expand across all required professions, hospitals may continue to rely on informal training or limited talent pools.

The larger risk is therefore not merely delayed academic approval. It is a possible mismatch between regulatory implementation and national workforce planning.

A Balanced Way Forward

India should not treat quality and capacity as competing priorities. A balanced transition model can protect NCAHP’s standard-setting role while allowing responsible programme expansion.

First, NCAHP could publish a time-bound curriculum release calendar for all remaining recognised professions. This would help universities, hospitals and state authorities plan investments and admissions more confidently.

Second, institutions meeting defined requirements for infrastructure, faculty, laboratories, clinical exposure and governance could be considered for provisional programme approval in professions where curricula are still awaited.

Third, any programme approved under such a transitional mechanism should be required to adopt the NCAHP curriculum once released. This would preserve national uniformity while avoiding unnecessary delays.

Fourth, during the interim period, institutions could use benchmark curricula from established universities, national skills frameworks or internationally accepted competency models, subject to regulatory review.

Fifth, regulatory oversight should focus not only on documents and infrastructure but also on student competencies, clinical exposure, assessment quality, internship standards and graduate readiness.

Finally, curriculum development should involve universities, hospitals, professional associations, state councils and industry stakeholders so that academic standards remain connected to healthcare delivery realities.

Conclusion

The NCAHP’s April 8, 2026 direction is a significant step toward standardising allied and healthcare education in India. Its emphasis on approved curricula, common standards and institutional accountability is important for quality assurance and patient safety.

However, if curricula for all recognised professions are not released in a timely manner, the framework may unintentionally delay programme development, institutional investment and student opportunity. It may also create uneven workforce growth across disciplines.

At a time when India aims to train one lakh allied health professionals over five years, regulation must support both quality and scale. A calibrated transitional pathway would allow NCAHP to function not only as a regulator but also as an enabler of India’s future-ready allied healthcare workforce.

World Cleft Awareness Day, Smile Train India Marks 800,000+ Free Surgeries
 

Nearly 35,000 children are born with clefts in India every year, yet many miss the critical window for treatment due to myths, misinformation, and stigma. Delayed care can lead to feeding difficulties, malnutrition, speech and hearing impairment, and long-term social and emotional challenges. Early diagnosis and timely surgery are key to better outcomes and access to comprehensive care. World Cleft Awareness Day seeks to raise awareness, dispel misconceptions, and ensure every child born with a cleft receives timely treatment.
 

Smile Train India treats surgery as one part of a larger picture. Its holistic model includes nutritional support, speech therapy, and orthodontic treatment, helping children thrive fully in life. Underpinning this is a sustainability-first strategy: Smile Train India trains and empowers local surgeons, anaesthetists, nurses, and multidisciplinary cleft teams to deliver care locally. By strengthening partner hospitals, the organisation ensures children can access high-quality, free cleft care close to home, while building healthcare capacity that outlasts any single intervention.
 

This year's awareness push has drawn wide-ranging support, with partners, donors, ambassadors, cleft affected individuals and families, well-wishers, and the broader community coming together to mark WCAD, many taking to social media and other platforms to share their voices and extend the conversation beyond the medical community and into everyday households.
 

"We've made real progress expanding access to treatment, but awareness remains our toughest battle," said Mamta Carroll, Senior Vice President and Regional Director – Asia, Smile Train. "Every day, children arrive at our doors months or even years later than they should have — not because treatment wasn't there, but because their families never knew cleft could be treated or feared the stigma that so often surrounds it. If we can close that awareness gap, we can reach these children in time and make sure not a single one is left waiting."
 

This World Cleft Awareness Day, Smile Train India urges parents, caregivers, healthcare professionals, policymakers, media, and communities to play an active role in raising awareness, encouraging early diagnosis, and challenging misconceptions surrounding clefts.
 

To learn more about how Smile Train India’s sustainable approach, please visit smiletrainindia.org. For cleft treatment-related query or support, please call our toll-free helpline number: 1800 103 8301.

India's first listed IVF chain, Gaudium IVF, unveils its AI-powered Signature Lab, kicking off its planned 19-centre expansion

Strategically located in South Delhi, the new centre offers comprehensive fertility care under one roof, combining experienced fertility specialists, advanced reproductive medicine and Gaudium IVF's standardised clinical protocols. At the heart of the new centre is the Gaudium Signature Lab, the Company's proprietary laboratory framework that integrates advanced embryology, AI-powered technologies and internationally benchmarked quality standards to create an optimal environment for embryo development. As Gaudium IVF expands its network, the Signature Lab model will be replicated across every new centre, ensuring patients experience the same high standards of precision, safety and clinical excellence, irrespective of location.

The centre also brings together Gaudium IVF's AI-powered embryology ecosystem, including SiD (Sperm Identification Device) for advanced sperm assessment and ERICA (Embryo Ranking Intelligent Classification Assistant) for embryo evaluation. By complementing the expertise of embryologists with data-driven insights, these technologies enhance precision, consistency and confidence throughout the IVF journey.

Built on a 17-year legacy of innovation and patient-centric care, Gaudium IVF has established itself as one of India's trusted fertility care providers. Its commitment to laboratory excellence has been recognised internationally with the European Quality Award from ESQR, Spain, reinforcing the high standards that underpin the Company's clinical outcomes, including in complex infertility and recurrent IVF failure cases.

Commenting on the launch, Dr. Manika Khanna, Chairperson and Managing Director, Gaudium IVF, said, "Fertility care is one of the most specialised fields of medicine, where science, clinical expertise and ethical practices come together to help couples realise their dream of parenthood. At Gaudium IVF, we believe every patient deserves care that is not only clinically advanced but also transparent, compassionate and centred around their individual needs.

The launch of our South Extension centre reflects our commitment to making world-class fertility care more accessible without compromising on the standards that have guided us for the past 17 years. As we expand our network, our focus remains on building centres that combine scientific excellence, AI-powered innovation and globally benchmarked laboratory standards with a patient-first approach. The Gaudium Signature Lab reflects this philosophy by bringing together qualified embryologists, technologically advanced laboratory, ethical practices and evidence-based care to support informed clinical decisions and provide patients with the highest standards of fertility care. These principles will continue to guide every step of our growth journey."

The launch comes at a time when demand for specialised fertility care continues to grow across India, driven by delayed parenthood, changing lifestyles and increasing awareness of assisted reproductive technologies. Through its planned network expansion, Gaudium IVF aims to replicate its Signature Lab model across new centres, combining advanced reproductive medicine, AI-powered embryology and standardised clinical protocols to deliver consistent, high-quality fertility care at scale and reinforce its leadership in India's rapidly evolving fertility care sector.

About Gaudium IVF and Women Health Limited

Founded in 2009, Gaudium IVF and Women Health Limited is a leading fertility care provider with a PAN India presence and a growing global reach. Recently becoming India’s first publicly listed IVF chain, the organisation has consistently pushed the boundaries of reproductive healthcare innovation in the country. With the introduction of AI-led embryology, Gaudium IVF continues to redefine the future of fertility treatment, reinforcing its position as an industry pioneer. Under the leadership of Manika Khanna, the organisation is known for its patient-centric approach, advanced clinical excellence, and continuous focus on innovation in reproductive medicine.

Mr. Anurag Yadav, CEO, Livasa Hospitals along with Mr. Bhoopendra Solanki, CIO, Livasa Hospitals

The appointment comes at a significant stage in Livasa Hospitals' growth journey as the network expands its regional footprint across North India while strengthening its digital capabilities. With technology becoming central to every aspect of healthcare-from diagnostics and clinical decision-making to patient engagement, cybersecurity and hospital operations, Livasa is making strategic investments to build an integrated, intelligent and patient-centric healthcare ecosystem.

An alumnus of IIM Calcutta, Mr. Solanki brings over 25 years of experience in healthcare information technology and digital transformation. He has held senior technology leadership positions at Sakra World Hospital, Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital, Medanta – The Medicity and Fortis Healthcare Ltd. 

Over the course of his career, he has successfully led enterprise-wide digital transformation across multi-hospital networks and greenfield healthcare projects. His expertise spans Hospital Information Systems (HIS), PACS, ERP, SAP S/4HANA, cloud infrastructure, cybersecurity, CRM platforms, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML), Robotic Process Automation (RPA), Internet of Things (IoT), data analytics and digital patient engagement platforms.

He has also led the implementation of Electronic Medical Records (EMR/EHR), Patient and Doctor Mobile Applications, Patient Portals, Telemedicine and Remote Care solutions, helping healthcare organisations improve efficiency, strengthen clinical workflows and enhance patient experience. Mr. Solanki is also an author and thought leader, contributing to discussions on healthcare technology and digital innovation.

Welcoming him to Livasa Hospitals, Mr. Anurag Yadav, Chief Executive Officer, Livasa Hospitals, said, "Healthcare is undergoing one of its biggest transformations, with technology becoming a critical enabler of better clinical outcomes, safer care and enhanced patient experience. As Livasa Hospitals continues its growth journey, building a robust digital ecosystem is a strategic priority for us. Bhoopendra's rich experience in leading technology transformation across some of India's premier healthcare institutions will help us accelerate this journey and create an integrated, secure and future-ready healthcare network."

As Chief Information Officer, Mr. Solanki will lead Livasa Hospitals' enterprise technology strategy and digital transformation roadmap. He will oversee the development of an integrated technology ecosystem across the network, with a focus on strengthening IT infrastructure, cybersecurity, data governance, AI-led innovation, automation and digital platforms that improve operational efficiency, clinical outcomes and patient engagement.

His appointment reflects Livasa Hospitals' continued investment in leadership, innovation and technology as the Group expands its regional footprint and advances its vision of delivering world-class healthcare closer to the communities it serves.

About Livasa Hospitals
Livasa Hospitals is one of North India's leading healthcare networks, committed to delivering advanced, accessible, and patient-centric medical care. Backed by IndiaRF, network has over 950 beds, supported by 250+ doctors and 40+ super-specialties, across Mohali, Amritsar, Hoshiarpur, Nawanshahr, Khanna, with further expansion underway across the region. Livasa Hospitals offers comprehensive tertiary and quaternary care services across Cardiac Sciences, Neurosciences, Oncology, Orthopaedics, Renal Sciences, Critical Care, Gastro Sciences, Mother & Child Care, Emergency Medicine, and several other specialties. Guided by a commitment to clinical excellence, innovation, and compassionate care, Livasa Hospitals continues to strengthen healthcare access and improve health outcomes for communities across North India.

From Left to Right - Dr Shalinder Sabherwal,  Dr Rupali Chopra, Dr Rajesh Saini, Krishnamachari Srikkanth, Dr R V Ramani, Peter Holland, Heidi Chase

Held under the theme “Innovation, Collaboration and Impact in Eye Care – VISION for Viksit Bharat 2047,” the three-day conference served as a national platform for knowledge exchange, showcasing innovations and strengthening partnerships aimed at eliminating avoidable blindness while advancing equitable, accessible and high-quality eye care across India.

Inauguration of Vision 2020

The scientific programme featured discussions across five thematic tracks: Innovations and Technological Solutions in Eye Care; Collaboration for Universal Eye Health; Impact, Equity, Sustainability and Quality in Eye Care; Excellence in Optometry and Allied Ophthalmic Personnel; and Sharing Knowledge Repository: Towards Organizational Excellence and Growth. These sessions highlighted emerging technologies, digital health innovations, collaborative healthcare models, quality improvement initiatives and workforce development strategies.

A special leadership session chaired by Dr. Rajesh Saini featured distinguished speakers including Dr. R. V. Ramani, Peter Holland, and Heidi Chase. Former Indian cricket captain Krishnamachari Srikkanth delivered an engaging session on Leadership Lessons from Cricket, drawing parallels between leadership in sports and healthcare.

Krishnamachari Srikkanth, former Indian cricket captain and Goodwill Ambassador of VISION 2020: The Right to Sight India said, “ VISION and eyesight are fundamental to everything we do, whether it is reading, writing, studying or playing sports. I am proud to be associated with VISION 2020 as its Goodwill Ambassador and support its efforts towards eliminating avoidable blindness in India. Cricket has taught me that self-belief, teamwork, innovation and hard work can help achieve even the biggest goals, and with eye care professionals from across the country coming together, I believe the VISION of a blindness-free India by 2047 can become a reality.”

Coinciding with the 50th anniversary of the Sankara movement, the conference marked a significant milestone in India’s community eye care journey. The event celebrated Sankara Eye Foundation India’s five decades of service in delivering quality eye care to underserved communities through innovation, outreach and sustainable service models.

Peter Holland, CEO OF International Agency of The Prevention of Blindness (IAPB) said, “Eye health has evolved beyond being solely a healthcare concern to become a critical global development and economic priority, directly influencing education, employment, productivity and community participation. Strong leadership, collaboration and a unified voice across the eye care sector are essential to eliminating avoidable sight loss and advancing universal access to eye care. India’s experience, innovation and commitment can play a pivotal role in shaping global action and strengthening international efforts to ensure VISION for all.”

The conference featured keynote addresses, plenary sessions, panel discussions, scientific paper presentations, workshops and interactive sessions. Experts deliberated on artificial intelligence, digital health, community ophthalmology, public-private partnerships, quality improvement and capacity building to strengthen India’s eye care ecosystem.

Dr RV Ramani, Padmashree Awardee and Founder and Managing Trustee, Sankara Eye Foundation about said, “Viksit Bharat is not merely a government programme but a national movement that requires collective leadership across healthcare, education, industry and civil society. Healthy citizens, skilled youth, inclusive growth and sustainable institutions will be central to India's journey towards becoming a developed nation. By restoring sight, preventing avoidable blindness and strengthening healthcare capacity, eye care institutions have a vital role in ensuring that every citizen can learn, work and live with dignity. As Sankara enters its golden jubilee year after completing 3.3 million free eye surgeries, our next 50 years must demonstrate what collective leadership, compassion and sustainability can accomplish together.”

The conference also reaffirmed the importance of collaborative action among government agencies, healthcare institutions, academia, civil society, industry and development partners in achieving universal eye health and supporting the VISION of Viksit Bharat 2047.

Speaking at the conference Dr Rajesh Saini, President of VISION 2020 said, “The Right to Sight India brings together over 210 organisations, with its members contributing to nearly 50–60% of the one crore eye surgeries performed in India last year. Through this conference, we aim to strengthen our collective commitment to delivering accessible, quality eye care for every citizen and contribute to the VISION of Viksit Bharat 2047.”

The 20th edition of the conference attracted hundreds of delegates from across the country and concluded with renewed commitments towards innovation, collaboration and evidence-based approaches to strengthen India’s eye care ecosystem and accelerate progress towards eliminating avoidable blindness.

Mr. Gokul V Subramaniam, President, Intel India, said, “While India has made remarkable progress through digital transformation and public welfare initiatives, bridging the gaps in agriculture, education and healthcare requires collective action, innovation and empathy. Technology can accelerate development, but wisdom comes from character, compassion and a shared responsibility towards the most marginalized. Sankara Eye Foundation exemplifies this spirit by proving that service, sustainability and purpose-driven leadership can transform lives and inspire nation-building.”

About Sankara Eye Foundation
Sankara Eye Foundation India is a Not-for-Profit organization committed to providing quality eye care services to the poor and marginalised sections of society. Started as a small primary health care centre in the year 1977 by Dr R.V. Ramani and Dr Radha Ramani, today Sankara is one of the largest and fastest growing social enterprises managing 14 super speciality eye care hospitals in more than 10 states. The network hospitals are equipped with state-of-the-art technology to perform advanced eye surgeries. Sankara Eye Foundation India is a protagonist of the National Eye Health Care Movement in India, continuously transforming the eye care delivery structure through various Eye Care Initiatives across age groups, cutting-edge technology, scientific approach, innovation, research & training.

IHCL Entrusts WAE to Advance Carbon-Neutral Water Solutions Across Hospitality

Under the arrangement, WAE will provide glass bottling plant systems integrated with advanced water purification technology, delivering treated drinking water conforming to BIS 10500 specifications. The solution is intended to support IHCL’s broader commitment to responsible operations by enabling a shift away from single-use packaged water towards a more circular, in-house water management model.

At the centre of the partnership is a shared focus on rethinking how water is produced, served and experienced within hospitality environments. By combining on-site purification with reusable glass bottling, the WAE platform is designed to reduce packaging waste, limit the transport footprint associated with externally sourced bottled water, and strengthen control over water quality at the point of consumption. In doing so, it offers hotels a practical pathway towards lower-carbon water service systems—where sustainability is embedded not as an adjunct to guest experience, but as part of operational design itself.

Commenting on the association, Binita Singh, Head – Brand Advocacy, WAE Limited, said, “We are delighted to associate with IHCL, a company whose leadership in hospitality has long been complemented by a deep and visible commitment to sustainability. For us, this engagement reflects a common conviction that the future of premium hospitality will be shaped as much by operational responsibility as by service excellence. Through our glass bottling and purification solutions, we hope to contribute to a water ecosystem that is safer, more elegant in its design, and meaningfully lower in environmental impact.”

The WAE system has been developed for hospitality settings where guest experience, environmental stewardship and operational efficiency must coexist seamlessly. The integrated model enables purified water to be processed and bottled on-site in reusable glass formats, helping properties reduce reliance on conventional packaged water while advancing internal sustainability goals with greater transparency and traceability.

This association also reinforces WAE’s growing role as a sustainability partner to the hospitality industry, with solutions built around water quality assurance, circular packaging, resource efficiency and carbon reduction. Rather than treating water merely as a utility, WAE’s approach positions it as an essential part of the built sustainability architecture of modern hotels and resorts.

WAE’s sustainability credentials are further underpinned by its validation through EcoVadis, one of the world’s most respected business sustainability ratings platforms. The company has been assessed across key pillars including environment, ethics, labour and human rights, and sustainable procurement, reflecting its commitment to responsible business practices and transparent ESG performance.

As the hospitality sector continues to align luxury with accountability, WAE believes water systems will play an increasingly important role in shaping future-ready guest infrastructure. Through its association with IHCL, WAE aims to support this transition by delivering safe, premium, BIS-compliant and lower-carbon water solutions that reflect the next chapter of sustainable hospitality in India.

About WAE Limited
WAE Limited is an engineering and sustainability-focused water solutions company delivering advanced systems across water purification, treatment, dispensing and circular hydration infrastructure. Its solutions are designed to help organisations improve water quality, reduce environmental impact, and transition towards more responsible, resource-efficient operations. WAE works across hospitality, commercial and institutional environments with a focus on innovation, sustainability and measurable outcomes.

Prakriti Shakti, CGH Earth Wellness

Many guests who have experienced Prakriti Shakti understand the value of a few days spent in nature, with wholesome food, yoga, rest and naturopathy. The metabolic reset program’s objective is that wellbeing should be accessible, restorative and rooted in nature. It is especially relevant for those who have been experiencing fatigue, stress, weight concerns, poor sleep or just feel the need to take care of themselves holistically. The 7-day Metabolic Reset Programme offers an immersive, physician-led wellness experience designed to rebalance the body’s metabolic health. Each day includes personalised medical consultations, two bespoke healing therapies, guided group yoga therapy, expert lifestyle and wellness coaching, and seamless airport transfers from Kochi—bringing together clinical expertise, holistic healing, and thoughtful hospitality in one restorative journey.

Dr. Cijith Sreedhar, Chief Medical Officer at Prakriti Shakti – “The Metabolic Reset is our way of helping people take a pause and reconnect with their health in a natural and sustainable way. Through personalized consultations, curated therapies, and doctor-prescribed diet guidance, we help guests begin a more mindful relationship with their metabolic health.”

Prakriti Shakti, the clinic of natural medicine by CGH Earth Wellness is set amidst a serene natural landscape designed to support healing, reset and renewal. The fan- cooled twin cottages have private balconies surrounded by lush foliage creating a calm and restorative environment for guests to slow down and reconnect with themselves.

The Metabolic Reset at Prakriti Shakti reflects a holistic approach to wellness, reminding us that wellbeing can begin with one thoughtful choice. This program can be a special wellness gift that you can share with someone you care about- a family member, friend, colleague who can benefit from a gentle reset of their health and lifestyle.
 

So, this monsoon, give the gift of wellness and make a difference to someone’s life. For more information on Prakriti Shakti please visit www.prakritishakti.com.

About CGH Earth Experience Wellness

The art of healing meets the science of health at CGH Earth Experience Wellness – with experiences that heal your body, mind and soul. Combining the power of ancient medicinal systems and traditional therapeutic practices, CGH Earth Wellness offers holistic healthcare based on Ayurveda, Naturopathy and Yoga. It also addresses one's overall state of wellbeing through experiences that are fulfilling and enriching for the self. All of the transformative experiences offered by CGH Earth Wellness are intrinsically nourished by the core values that are at the heart of all the group’s hospitality and healthcare. The CGH Earth Wellness Group believes that operating with environmental sensitivity, including and benefiting local community and adopting the local ethos are the only ways to revive, sustain and thrive as a global collective.

A pioneer in responsible tourism in India and with a credible background spanning over five decades in offering uniquely immersive travel experiences, CGH Earth Wellness diversified into wellness with the start of Ayurveda Healthcare 17 years back at Kalari Kovilakom, followed by Kalari Rasayana. Subsequently, Prakriti Shakti was started in 2018, which offers naturopathy healthcare, another system of holistic healing with roots in indigenous wisdom. These centres are certified and accredited by NABH (National Accreditation Board for Hospitals and Healthcare providers). While the Ayurveda and Naturopathy healing centres primarily addressed the body, SwaSwara was CGH Earth’s quest towards redefining the meaning of a true holiday. Embraced by the wilderness on the seashore of Om beach, SwaSwara addressed the mind by offering rejuvenating and immersive experiences to release, re-focus and recalibrate the self.

For more information on CGH Earth Wellness, please visit www.cghearthwellness.com.

Dr. R Anantharaman, Director for Transcatheter Heart Valve Therapies, Dr Mahesh Kumar Medical Superintendent and team of cardiologists and cardiac surgeons

The procedure was performed on a 58-year-old man who had undergone a complex heart valve operation nearly 25 years ago. He had previously undergone the Ross procedure, in which the patient's own pulmonary valve is moved to replace the diseased aortic valve (known as an aortic autograft), while the pulmonary valve is replaced with a donated human valve (known as a pulmonary homograft). Although the Ross procedure provides excellent long-term outcomes, both valves can deteriorate over time and may require further intervention.

The patient presented with severe aortic regurgitation, severe pulmonary regurgitation with moderate pulmonary stenosis, severe pulmonary hypertension and moderate mitral regurgitation. He had repeated admissions for heart failure with severe swelling of the legs and abdomen, impaired kidney and liver function, and severe breathlessness. He was unable to sleep comfortably and was in New York Heart Association Class III–IV heart failure.

He had consulted multiple centres where repeat open-heart surgery was considered prohibitively high risk because of the complexity of a second operation. Even a catheter-based approach was considered extremely challenging.

Following a detailed evaluation using three-dimensional echocardiography and cardiac CT imaging, the multidisciplinary heart team at Kauvery Heart Institute identified the possibility of treating both failing valves through a completely catheter-based approach without repeat open-heart surgery. Since no similar case had been reported in the published medical literature, the treatment strategy was reviewed extensively by the hospital's heart team led by Dr Rajaram Anantharaman, Director of Transcatheter Heart Valve Therapies and an international panel of experts before proceeding.

The pulmonary homograft was initially prepared by placing covered stents, followed by balloon dilatation, before implanting a Medtronic Melody transcatheter pulmonary valve. The failing aortic autograft was then treated with an Edwards Sapien 3 Ultra Resilia balloon-expandable valve. As there was no calcium within the valve to help anchor the replacement valve, the procedure required meticulous planning and precise execution, with AI predictive modeling with virtual Valve implant. It was performed in a hybrid operating room under general anaesthesia with continuous transoesophageal echocardiography guidance.

The patient made an uneventful recovery and was discharged after a short stay in the intensive care unit. At his two-week follow-up, his symptoms had improved markedly. The swelling had completely resolved, he had returned to New York Heart Association Class I functional status, was sleeping comfortably, and was able to walk for 20–30 minutes without any limitation.

Dr. Rajaram Anantharaman, Director for Transcatheter Heart Valve Therapies Kauvery Heart Institute, Alwarpet, said, "Patients with failure of both the aortic autograft and pulmonary homograft after a Ross procedure have very limited treatment options because repeat surgery carries considerable risk. Careful imaging, meticulous procedural planning and close collaboration across multiple specialties enabled us to successfully replace both valves using a catheter-based approach without reopening the chest. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first reported case of a completely percutaneous double transcatheter Ross rescue strategy in the published world literature. This case opens the possibility of treating carefully selected high-risk patients who otherwise may not have a viable treatment option."

Dr. Aravindan Selvaraj, Co-founder and Executive Director, Kauvery Group of Hospitals, added, "Advanced structural heart interventions are transforming the way complex valve diseases are treated. Performing a procedure of this complexity requires experienced clinical teams, advanced imaging, hybrid operating room facilities and seamless coordination across specialties. This achievement reflects the advanced expertise and infrastructure available at Kauvery Heart Institute and our continued commitment to bringing the latest evidence-based treatment options to patients in India."

H.E. President Dharambeer Gokhool of Mauritius and Dr. Ishan Shivanand of Compassion Unites launch the national mental health programme at State House, 8 July 2026

“Mauritius is honoured to become one of the countries where this cross-sector alliance now takes root,” said President Gokhool. “Because ultimately, the strength of a nation is not measured only by its economic achievements or physical development, but by the wellbeing of its people. The true wealth of a nation lies not only in what it builds, but in how it cares for its people.”

Dr. Ishan Shivanand of Compassion Unites addresses delegates at State House in Mauritius, 8 July 2026

Raised in a monastery, Shivanand trained for years in ancient martial arts, breathwork, and meditation practices, a discipline of body, breath and mind rather than stillness alone. He codified what he had mastered into structured protocols and put them through clinical studies with leading universities in the United States. The results, published in peer-reviewed international medical journals, documented up to 80% improvement in symptoms of depression, anxiety and insomnia.

Shivanand’s protocols are already used in clinical and corporate settings internationally, including at Google. With the launch in Mauritius, a national government has adopted them for an entire population. The fact that this comes in a nation whose history and culture are closely bound to India gives it particular resonance. A practice preserved for centuries, carried into modern clinical use by the Indian-born practitioner who mastered it, is now being written into another country’s approach to national mental healthcare.

Dr. Ishan Shivanand said, “For too long we have treated mental health as a private battle fought in silence. It is a public emergency, now magnified by AI. The Republic of Mauritius has chosen to break that silence, prioritising the wellbeing of its citizens and making care accessible to every individual. The answers the world is searching for have been held in India’s contemplative traditions for centuries, and Mauritius is the first nation to put them to work at scale. What has begun here is a blueprint the world can follow.”

The programme’s first national event brings that resilience-building into practice through sport. Compassion Unites is staging a Kun Khmer championship at the Cote d’Or National Sports Complex that builds discipline and confidence in young people.

The launch at State House marks the start of a sustained national effort, one its founder intends as a model other governments can study and adapt. A tradition India has held for centuries is now being adopted, at the scale of a nation, beyond its borders.

About Compassion Unites

Compassion Unites is a cross-sector mental health alliance bringing together corporates, governments, faith institutions, academic centres, and community networks to expand access to mental health support worldwide. Learn more at compassionunites.com.

About Dr. Ishan Shivanand

Dr. Ishan Shivanand is an academic, philanthropist and founder of Compassion Unites. Raised in a monastery, he trained within one of India’s oldest knowledge systems before bringing its practices into modern clinical research. His work has been published in peer-reviewed international medical journals. An award-winning author of the USA Today national bestseller, The Practice of Immortality, he has been recognised by the U.S. Congress, received by the U.K. Parliament, and invited to the White House to advise on the opioid crisis. He holds research affiliations with the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Ropar and Stanford University.

Dr. Shivanand is available for media interviews and speaking engagements on mental health and the science of meditation.

DUSQ Founders - From L-R Top row Hrithik Jaiswal, Animesh Kumar, Gursakhi Lugani, Front Row Shalmali Kadu, Dr. Siddhant Bhargava, Mitansh Khurana

The company did not attempt to fit into the well-established category of trackers that others like Oura, Whoop and Garmin gained their footing in. Instead, they developed the world's first closed-loop sleep regulation system that takes care of every moment integral to a good night's sleep. The company's behind-the-ear sleep regulation device was built, tested, and clinically trialled entirely out of an in-house sleep lab. Now, it is being shipped to American backers ahead of a broader US rollout planned for September 2026.

The milestone places DUSQ among a small number of Indian consumer hardware companies to win meaningful early traction in the US market, and comes less than two years after the company secured a three-Shark deal on Shark Tank India. On Kickstarter specifically, DUSQ has surpassed every previous Indian health tech company on the platform, including Ultrahuman, whose original Ring campaign raised approximately USD 500,000 in total. As DUSQ scales toward its US retail launch, the company is simultaneously expanding its India-based team, with more than 60 open roles across engineering, design, biotech, and growth functions.

A hard problem, solved out of India

At just 12 grams and 7.2 millimetres, DUSQ's closed-loop sleep regulation system works from wind-down to wake-up. It sits behind the ear, reads the autonomic nervous system in real time, and responds the moment sleep is disrupted, delivering adaptive vagus and vestibular nerve stimulation to guide the body back into deeper sleep before the sleeper ever knows something went wrong. Every other sleep device on the market tells you what happened the night before. DUSQ changes what happens during it.

The science behind that claim was built entirely in-house. DUSQ's proprietary sleep lab has collected more than 50 million physiological data points. The company has completed one clinical trial with a second currently underway, holds CDSCO certification in India, and deploys an FDA-cleared stimulation modality for insomnia. The results from its double-blind, controlled trials are the kind that make the category sit up: 31 per cent more deep sleep. 38 percent improvement in heart rate variability. 22 per cent fewer night awakenings.

Central to DUSQ's approach is SQ, or Sleep Quotient, their proprietary metric measuring the body's capacity to produce sleep, in contrast to traditional sleep scores that only describe what has already occurred. Building SQ required the kind of full-stack work — sensor hardware, signal processing, biostatistics, and real-time intervention algorithms - that is rare to assemble inside a single Indian startup.

From Shark Tank to a US Kickstarter record

DUSQ's US debut followed more than 2,000 first-generation commercial users in India and a Kickstarter waitlist exceeding 10,000 people. The company's USD 1 million-plus opening places it among the fastest Indian-founded hardware companies to hit that mark on the platform, and signals that a science-first, India-built medtech product can compete directly in one of the world's most saturated consumer health markets.

"We did not enter a category. We built one. From India. That is what these million dollars represent, not a product win, a category win," said Dr. Siddhant Bhargava, Co-founder and CEO of DUSQ,  who is also a physician.

"Sleep is too personal to be sold through hype. Most brands borrow desire from culture; we had to build our own. A million-dollar opening tells us people were willing to believe in a future of sleep they hadn't experienced yet," said Gursakhi Lugani, Chief Taste Officer at DUSQ.

The company's seed round of approximately USD 3 million was led by Fireside Ventures, one of India's largest consumer venture capital firms, with participation from Antler India and Climber Capital.

Now hiring and building the next phase from India

With its US retail launch a month away, DUSQ is expanding its India-based team across more than 50 open roles spanning hardware engineering, embedded systems, signal processing, biotech, product design, content, growth, customer success, sleep coaching, and operations.

DUSQ is looking for people who want to work on problems that lack existing playbooks, whether that means building closed-loop biological systems from scratch, creating content for a category that has never been explained before, or supporting a community of users experiencing something genuinely new.

"The problems we are solving here do not exist as job descriptions anywhere else. We are building the sensing, stimulation, and intelligence layers simultaneously on real human physiology in real time. If that sounds hard, it is. That is exactly the point," said Mitansh Khurana, who leads technology at DUSQ.

"Some of the most important problems cannot be solved by engineering alone or science alone. They require curiosity, empathy, and the willingness to work across disciplines. That intersection is where we choose to build every day," said Shalmali Kadu, who leads product at DUSQ.

"I have helped scale consumer brands to nine figures in revenue, and I have never seen a product where the technology this early actually matches the ambition of the pitch," said Ronak Shah, Growth Advisor at DUSQ. "If you want to build something that has to work, not just look good in a deck, this is the place to do it."

DUSQ's open roles are listed on the company's careers page, with a focus on candidates based in India who want to work on a product now live and selling in the US market.

About DUSQ

Founded in 2023 by Dr. Siddhant Bhargava, Shalmali Kadu, and Mitansh Khurana, DUSQ is a sleep science and recovery company. Grounded in a regulation-first hypothesis and backed by over 50 million physiological data points, the company combines neuroscience and hardware design to define a new category in sleep technology. DUSQ is headquartered in India and is preparing for its global launch, starting with the United States.

Advanced diagnostics, timely care, healthier communities

The project marks the commissioning of a state-of-the-art Revolution™ Aspire Select CT Scanner, significantly expanding the hospital's capacity to diagnose critical conditions across specialties including neurology, cardiology, oncology, trauma care and emergency medicine. The transformative upgrade is expected to benefit thousands of patients every year, particularly those facing life-threatening conditions such as stroke, trauma and cancer - where every minute counts.

Access to advanced diagnostic imaging continues to be a challenge for many communities in Odisha. Patients often travel long distances or endure extended waiting periods for CT scans, delaying diagnosis and treatment. In emergencies, such delays can have serious consequences, making timely access to advanced imaging an essential component of quality healthcare. By strengthening diagnostic infrastructure at SSCASRH, Project SWASTHYA KIRAN addresses this critical gap, ensuring that advanced diagnostic services are available closer to the communities that need them most.

Project SWASTHYA KIRAN is the outcome of a partnership between Hindustan Urvarak & Rasayan Ltd. (HURL) and The Art of Living Social Projects, formalised through an MoU signed at the Art of Living International Center, Bengaluru, in the presence of Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar. Guided by Gurudev's vision of compassionate service and holistic well-being, the partnership brings together advanced technology and selfless service to make quality diagnostic healthcare more accessible to underserved communities.

The initiative will:

• Improve timely access to diagnostics by reducing travel and waiting time, ensuring patients receive critical imaging faster - especially during emergencies such as stroke and trauma.

• Make advanced diagnostics more affordable by providing high-quality CT scanning services closer to home, easing the financial burden on rural and underserved communities.

• Strengthen emergency care by enabling quicker, more accurate diagnosis, supporting earlier medical intervention and improving patient outcomes.

Beyond emergency medicine, the enhanced diagnostic capability will strengthen the hospital's ability to deliver more effective care across a range of clinical specialties. Faster, more precise imaging will help clinicians make informed treatment decisions, improve continuity of care, and reinforce SSCASRH's role as an important healthcare institution serving Cuttack and surrounding communities.

Project SWASTHYA KIRAN is more than the commissioning of advanced medical technology - it is an investment in healthier communities. By bringing timely diagnosis, quality healthcare and renewed hope closer to home, the initiative reflects the shared vision of HURL and The Art of Living Social Projects to ensure that quality healthcare reaches those who need it most.

About The Art of Living Social Projects

The Art of Living, founded by humanitarian and spiritual leader Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, is committed to transforming lives through community-centred initiatives. Working across healthcare, conservation of water resources, education, women empowerment, and environmental restoration, it partners with governments, NGOs, corporations, and local communities to bring meaningful change. Through its compassionate, service-driven approach, The Art of Living continues to strengthen well-being and nurture a culture of peace and responsibility worldwide.

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Marwari Catalysts Group to Build Elara Healthcare as a Future-Ready Mother and Child Care Network

Moving from an IVF-industry-focused approach to a broader mother and child care vision, Elara Healthcare aims to build an integrated healthcare ecosystem covering women's wellness, fertility and infertility care, pregnancy support, mother and child health, nutrition guidance, preventive care, wellness programs and patient education. IVF and infertility services will continue to remain a key vertical within the platform, while the overall focus will expand towards complete care for women, mothers and children.

As part of its future expansion roadmap, Marwari Catalysts Group plans to develop Elara Healthcare across Rajasthan, Haryana, Punjab and Himachal, followed by proposed international opportunities in Africa and Gulf. These expansion plans are future-oriented and will be executed in phases through collaborations with hospitals, healthcare professionals, wellness partners, doctors and strategic institutions.

The vision behind Elara Healthcare is to create a trusted mother and child care network that combines clinical excellence with affordability, compassion, preventive healthcare, technology-enabled systems and standardized delivery. The platform will focus on serving Tier-II and Tier-III cities, where access to organized mother and child healthcare, fertility care and women's wellness services remains limited or fragmented.

To strengthen its mother and child healthcare ecosystem, Elara Healthcare has signed MoUs with Nuskha Kitchen and Hobfit for the betterment of women's health, mother and child wellness, yoga, exercise, nutrition and proper diet support. These collaborations are aimed at building a holistic care model where medical services are supported by lifestyle, diet, fitness and wellness interventions.

Speaking about the vision, Sushil Sharma, Founder & CEO of Marwari Catalysts Group, Executive Director, BRICS CCI, Convenor, ESC Rajasthan Chapter and also Co-Chair Startup Vertical, Rotary District 3053 (2026–27) said, "Marwari Catalysts has always believed that impactful and globally scalable businesses can emerge from Tier-II and Tier-III India. Through Elara Healthcare, we are building a future-ready mother and child care platform that will include fertility, IVF and infertility care as part of a much larger healthcare vision. Our focus is to create an affordable, trusted and standardized healthcare brand for women, mothers, children and families. Rajasthan will be a key starting market, and we plan to expand across Haryana, Punjab, Himachal and, in the future, explore Africa and Gulf and BRICS Countries as international opportunities."

He further added that the Venture Studio Model enables Marwari Catalysts Group to support founders with strategic leadership, operational expertise, branding, fundraising and access to national and international networks, helping healthcare ventures scale faster while maintaining quality, governance and patient trust.

Dr. Renu Sharma, Founder & Director of Elara Healthcare, said the objective is to build a holistic healthcare platform for women and families, "During my years of working in fertility and women's healthcare, I realised that families in smaller cities need much more than only IVF treatment. They need guidance, ethical medical care, emotional support, nutrition, wellness, preventive care and reliable mother and child healthcare services closer to home. Elara Healthcare is being designed with this broader vision. IVF and infertility services will remain an important part of our work, but our larger focus will be on complete women, mother and child care."

She added that the organisation will continue to invest in experienced medical professionals, fertility specialists, embryologists, mother and child healthcare experts, wellness partners, technology systems and continuous training to maintain consistent standards across every future centre and collaboration.

Gajendra Singh, Director of Elara Healthcare, said the expansion strategy will focus on building a sustainable healthcare ecosystem rather than only increasing the number of centres, "Healthcare expansion requires strong systems, quality assurance and operational excellence. Elara Healthcare will be built on standardized processes, technology-enabled monitoring, patient-centric services and transparent governance. Our aim is to create a trusted network that supports women, mothers, children and families through every stage of care."

Supporting Elara Healthcare's future growth is an experienced ecosystem of healthcare professionals, entrepreneurs, strategic investors and global business leaders. Among them is Vijendra Singh, a globally experienced technology executive, strategic investor and mentor whose expertise in digital transformation, business scaling and organizational leadership will contribute to the platform's long-term growth.

The initiative further strengthens Marwari Catalysts Group's healthcare portfolio, which already includes ventures such as Sarathi Healthcare, Nuskha Kitchen and One Dose. Through Elara Healthcare, the Group aims to build a wider healthcare platform that solves real-world challenges for women and families while creating sustainable economic and social impact.

Looking ahead, Marwari Catalysts Group plans to collaborate with leading doctors, mother and child hospitals, fertility specialists, wellness partners, healthcare institutions and strategic partners to accelerate Elara Healthcare's future expansion. The proposed international roadmap covering South Africa and Dubai also reflects the Group's ambition to build an Indian healthcare brand with global relevance.

With Rajasthan marking an important beginning and future expansion planned across Haryana, Punjab, Himachal, South Africa and Dubai, Elara Healthcare is envisioned as a trusted mother and child care network that brings together medical care, wellness, nutrition, fertility services and compassionate patient support under one platform.

About Marwari Catalysts Group

Marwari Catalysts Group is one of India's leading startup ecosystem builders, with a portfolio of more than 100 startups across healthcare, technology, consumer, manufacturing and sustainability sectors. Through its Venture Studio Model, the Group partners with visionary founders by providing strategic guidance, operational expertise, branding, fundraising support and access to national and global markets. The Group remains committed to building scalable ventures from Tier-II and Tier-III India that create lasting economic and social impact Local to Global.

 Dr. Azad Moopen, Executive Chairman & Mr. Varun Khanna, MD and Group CEO - Aster DM Quality Care Ltd

With a strong footprint across South and Central India, Aster DM Quality Care will have a significant presence in several underpenetrated fast-growing healthcare centres beyond the metros. These centres will play an increasingly important role in the group's long-term strategy to decentralise affordable and advanced healthcare by expanding specialist services, investing in cutting-edge technologies and strengthening centres of excellence closer to where patients live.

Commenting on the Day 1 operations of the merged entity, Dr. Azad Moopen, Executive Chairman, Aster DM Quality Care, said, “The coming together of Aster and Quality Care as a single enterprise marks a defining milestone in our journey to build one of India's most trusted and future-ready healthcare institutions. More than the combination of two healthcare networks, it is the convergence of shared values, clinical excellence, deep medical expertise and an unwavering commitment to patient care. Together, we are creating an institution that is stronger, more resilient and better positioned to address the evolving healthcare needs of India.” 

On the strategic priorities for the combined organization, Mr. Varun Khanna, Managing Director and Group CEO, Aster DM Quality Care said, “Aster Quality Care brings together highly complementary institutions, strong clinical ecosystems and teams united by a shared ambition to strengthen healthcare delivery in India. At Aster Quality Care patients and their families will be at the centre of every decision, with digitally enabled solutions and a strong bias for high-quality clinical outcomes. Our immediate focus is disciplined and seamless integration with continuity of patient care. We are committed to ensuring that patients, clinicians, employees and partners experience stability and consistency as we bring together systems, capabilities and best practices across the combined network.”

The combined platform is expected to unlock significant synergies across clinical collaboration, technology adoption, procurement, digital health and operational excellence. Doctors across the network will increasingly collaborate through shared protocols, multidisciplinary case discussions and centres of excellence, enabling patients to benefit from a broader pool of expertise while receiving consistent standards of care across the network.

With 39 hospitals across 28 cities and over 10,600 beds, Aster DM Quality Care is uniquely positioned to expand access to specialist care, advanced treatment and cutting-edge medical technology across India's tier 2 and tier 3 cities including Nagpur, Aurangabad, Vijayawada, Guntur, Bhubaneswar, Raipur, Nagercoil, Kolhapur, Kannur, Kasaragod, and Kottakkal, reducing the need for patients to travel to metropolitan centres for complex healthcare. 

This commitment is a reflection of a vision both organizations have consistently pursued over the years - taking advanced healthcare capabilities to emerging cities. From introducing the first LINAC-based radiation therapy system in Nagercoil to expanding robotic surgery programmes across Raipur, Trivandrum, Kolhapur and soon Guntur and Vijayawada – these investments are not only bringing advanced clinical care closer to patients but also supporting the attraction and retention of high-quality clinical talent in non-metro cities. Building on this foundation, the combined entity will accelerate investments in advanced technologies such as Gamma Knife, stereotactic radiosurgery systems (like ZAP), 10 robotic surgical platforms, and other next generation clinical capabilities, while simultaneously making advanced cancer care more accessible through the addition of 12 LINAC-based radiation therapy systems across tier 2 and tier 3 cities.

The group’s combined bed strength is expected to grow to over 15,000 beds over the coming years, helping expand access to affordable care across the country. With more than 45,000 healthcare professionals, the combined entity brings together one of India’s most extensive clinical ecosystems, enabling greater collaboration among doctors, nurses and caregivers while strengthening access to high-quality care across the network. As the network grows, the platform is expected to create thousands of additional employment opportunities for doctors, nurses, allied healthcare professionals and support staff, further strengthening the healthcare ecosystem in the communities it serves.

About Aster DM Quality Care Limited*
Aster DM Quality Care Limited is one of India’s leading integrated healthcare providers, formed through the merger of Aster DM Healthcare Limited and Quality Care India Limited. The merged entity will bring together four leading healthcare brands - Aster DM, CARE Hospitals, Evercare and KIMSHEALTH, creating a scaled and diversified healthcare platform with a network of 39 hospitals across 28 cities and over 10,600 beds. With a strong presence across South and Central India, the merged entity will deliver comprehensive healthcare services spanning primary, secondary, tertiary and quaternary care, supported by centres of excellence across key specialties including oncology, cardiac sciences, neurosciences, gastro sciences, orthopaedics, nephrology, organ transplantation, mother and child care, and critical care.

*Name change subject to receipt of Certificate of Incorporation pursuant to the merger. Currently named Aster DM Healthcare Limited.

Dr. Preethaa Ganesh, inaugurates MED-AI Summit 2026 at VMCH along with Dr. Sujoy Kar

Held under the visionary leadership of Dr. Ishari K. Ganesh, Founder & Chancellor, VISTAS, the three-day international summit brought together leading clinicians, medical researchers, academicians, healthcare professionals, AI experts, technologists, policymakers, and industry leaders from India and abroad to explore how Artificial Intelligence is transforming the future of healthcare.

The conference served as a global knowledge-sharing platform, focusing on AI-powered diagnostics, digital healthcare, predictive analytics, clinical decision support systems, precision medicine, intelligent medical education, biomedical research, and next-gzzeneration healthcare technologies. Through keynote lectures, scientific sessions, panel discussions, workshops, oral presentations, poster sessions, and networking opportunities, participants gained valuable insights into the rapidly evolving landscape of AI-enabled healthcare.

The inaugural ceremony was presided over by Dr. Preethaa Ganesh, Vice President – Vels Group of Institutions, with Dr. Sujoy Kar, Chief Medical Information Officer & Vice President, Apollo Hospitals, serving as the Chief Guest.

Addressing the gathering, Dr. Sujoy Kar, Chief Medical Information Officer & Vice President, Apollo Hospitals, appreciated the visionary initiatives of Dr. Ishari K. Ganesh, Founder & Chancellor, VISTAS, particularly the institution's commitment to providing free medical treatment to nearly 200 villagers in the surrounding communities through its healthcare outreach programmes.

Emphasizing the future of medicine, Dr. Kar remarked that "Doctors must lead Artificial Intelligence, not be led by it." He urged young medical professionals to learn both the language of medicine and the language of AI, enabling them to harness technology responsibly for better patient care.

He further encouraged students and faculty to devote more time to active research, innovation, and interdisciplinary collaboration, stating that research will be the driving force behind the next generation of healthcare advancements.

Expressing his enthusiasm for future collaborations, Dr. Kar said, "Apollo Hospitals looks forward to working closely with VELS. Together, we can strengthen research, innovation, and AI-driven healthcare for the benefit of society."

Distinguished dignitaries present included Dr. S. Asokan, Chief Executive Officer, GEM Hospitals, Chennai; Dr. Kumudha Lingaraj, Dean, Vels Medical College & Hospital; Dr. Prince J. Samuel, Vice Principal (Academics); Dr. Maignana Kumar, Vice Principal (Accreditations); and Dr. Vijayashree R., Professor & Head, Department of Pathology and Organizing Chairperson, MED-AI Summit 2026. The event witnessed enthusiastic participation from senior faculty members, researchers, healthcare professionals, students, and delegates representing premier institutions across the country.

Adding significant international value to the summit were globally acclaimed experts including Dr. Waqar M. Naqvi, Founder & Research Lead, AD Vivum Education & Research, Doha, Qatar, and Dr. Priyah Prathaban, Associate Professor, Faculty of Medicine, AIMST University, Malaysia.

The conference also featured an impressive lineup of distinguished national experts including Dr. T. V. Geetha (Anna University, Chennai), Dr. Kalavathy Moses S. (SIMS Hospital, Chennai), Dr. C. N. Srinivas (Sukraa Software Solutions), Dr. Madhuvanthi Mohan (Rajan Eye Care, Chennai), Dr. S. Asokan (GEM Hospitals), Dr. Sudha Jasmine Rajan (Christian Medical College, Vellore), Dr. D. C. Mathangi (Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research, Chennai), Dr. S. Rajendiran (Sri Devaraj Urs Academy of Higher Education and Research, Kolar), and Mr. Venkata Phanidhar Nelluri, who shared their expertise on AI applications in surgery, pathology, ophthalmology, laboratory medicine, medical education, biomedical research, and critical care.

The summit witnessed exceptional participation throughout all three days. The pre-conference hands-on workshops conducted on 25 June 2026 attracted 333 participants across seven clinical departments, highlighting the growing interest in AI-driven clinical learning.

The scientific conference held on 26 and 27 June 2026 recorded 447 delegates each day, comprising faculty members, undergraduate and postgraduate students, clinicians, researchers, healthcare professionals, and industry representatives from leading medical colleges, hospitals, universities, and research institutions across India.

MED-AI Summit 2026 featured seven pre-conference workshops, nine scientific sessions, the prestigious Velan Oration Lecture, oral and poster presentations, award-winning research paper sessions, panel discussions, and collaborative networking opportunities, making it one of the most comprehensive AI-focused healthcare conferences hosted by a medical institution in the region.

During the conference, speakers emphasized that Artificial Intelligence is rapidly reshaping modern medicine by improving diagnostic accuracy, strengthening clinical decision-making, enhancing patient outcomes, accelerating medical research, and transforming healthcare delivery. They also underscored the importance of ethical, responsible, and evidence-based integration of AI technologies to complement clinical expertise while maintaining patient safety and trust.

Speaking about the significance of the summit, the organizers reiterated that Vels Medical College & Hospital remains committed to creating an ecosystem that promotes innovation, interdisciplinary research, technology-enabled medical education, and collaborative healthcare solutions. The institution continues to invest in academic excellence while preparing future healthcare professionals to lead in the era of digital medicine and Artificial Intelligence.

MED-AI Summit 2026 stands as yet another milestone in the journey of Vels Medical College & Hospital towards becoming a nationally and internationally recognized centre for medical education, clinical excellence, healthcare innovation, and cutting-edge research. By bringing together globally renowned experts, leading academicians, clinicians, researchers, students, and industry pioneers, the summit has strengthened Vels Medical College & Hospital's reputation as a destination for transformative medical learning and AI-driven healthcare innovation, paving the way for future collaborations that will shape the next generation of intelligent heaalthcare.

For more details please visit : velsmedicalcollege.com.

From L to R: Dr. SHREEVARMA, Founder-Chairman, Dr. SHREEVARMA's Wellness Pvt. Ltd.; Prof. S. Ponnuaamy, Registrar, SRMIST

The partnership marks a significant milestone in Dr. SHREEVARMA's Vision 2030, a long-term mission to build an integrated healthcare ecosystem where traditional wisdom is strengthened through modern science, innovation, education, entrepreneurship, and community wellness. The collaboration will be spearheaded by the Interdisciplinary Institute of Indian System of Medicine (IIISM) under the Directorate of Research at SRMIST, bringing together academic excellence and clinical expertise to generate globally relevant scientific evidence for Ayurveda.

Speaking on the occasion, Acharya Dr. SHREEVARMA, Founder-Chairman, Dr. SHREEVARMA's Wellness Pvt. Ltd., said, "Healthcare is entering a new era where prevention, lifestyle medicine, and scientific validation will play a defining role in improving human health. Ayurveda embodies centuries of knowledge that remains highly relevant today. Our responsibility is to preserve this invaluable heritage while validating it through rigorous scientific research. Our collaboration with SRM Institute of Science and Technology is a significant milestone in Dr. SHREEVARMA's Vision 2030 to build an integrated healthcare ecosystem where research, education, innovation, entrepreneurship, and community wellness come together to improve lives and shape a healthier future for generations to come."

Building the Future of Scientific Ayurveda
Driven by the growing global demand for preventive healthcare, personalised medicine, and holistic wellness, Dr. SHREEVARMA's Wellness has been actively working to bridge the gap between classical Ayurvedic knowledge and modern scientific validation. Through this partnership with SRMIST, the organisation aims to establish a robust research ecosystem that will generate high-quality scientific evidence, strengthen the credibility of Ayurveda, and contribute to its wider global acceptance. The collaboration will focus on preserving the authenticity of traditional Ayurvedic principles while validating their safety, efficacy, and therapeutic value through interdisciplinary scientific research.

Research and Innovation Focus
Under the partnership, Dr. SHREEVARMA's Wellness and SRMIST will jointly undertake multidisciplinary research in scientific validation of Ayurvedic formulations, phytochemical and analytical research, herbal drug standardisation, product innovation and formulation development, clinical pharmacology, lifestyle medicine, preventive healthcare, healthy ageing and longevity, integrative healthcare models, and clinical documentation for evidence generation.The collaboration will also create opportunities for student internships, doctoral and post-doctoral research, faculty development, professional education, skill development programmes, and industry-academia knowledge exchange, enabling research outcomes to translate into practical healthcare solutions.

Advancing Vision 2030
The collaboration further strengthens Dr. SHREEVARMA's Vision 2030, which seeks to establish a comprehensive healthcare ecosystem encompassing scientific research, integrative clinical care, preventive healthcare, education, herbal innovation, entrepreneurship, and community wellness. By combining Dr. SHREEVARMA's Wellness' expertise in Ayurveda with SRM Institute of Science and Technology's multidisciplinary research capabilities, the partnership aims to develop globally relevant healthcare solutions while positioning India as a leader in evidence-based Ayurveda and integrative healthcare.

About Dr. SHREEVARMA's Wellness
Dr. SHREEVARMA's Wellness is an integrated healthcare organisation dedicated to advancing preventive healthcare through Ayurveda, lifestyle medicine, scientific research, education, and community engagement.

Under Dr. SHREEVARMA's Vision 2030, the organisation is building a multidisciplinary healthcare ecosystem focused on Integrative clinical care, Scientific research, Preventive healthcare, Healthcare education, Community wellness, Herbal product innovation, Healthcare entrepreneurship and Leadership development.

Its key initiatives include ACE Foundation, ACEVEDA, PCR Herbals, and AYUSHPRENEUR, each contributing to research, innovation, education, and the advancement of evidence-based traditional healthcare.

About Acharya Dr. SHREEVARMA
Acharya Dr. SHREEVARMA is an Ayurveda physician, researcher, educator, wellness entrepreneur, and Founder-Chairman of Dr. SHREEVARMA's Wellness. Through Vision 2030, he is leading initiatives in preventive healthcare, scientific research, healthcare education, wellness entrepreneurship, and community health, with the objective of building sustainable healthcare systems rooted in India's traditional medical heritage.

About SRM Institute of Science and Technology
SRM Institute of Science and Technology (SRMIST) is one of India's leading multidisciplinary universities, recognised for excellence in higher education, research, innovation, and international collaboration.

Through its Interdisciplinary Institute of Indian System of Medicine (IIISM) under the Directorate of Research, SRMIST is committed to advancing scientific research that integrates traditional systems of medicine with modern healthcare science, supporting innovation and evidence generation in integrative medicine.

(L-R) Mr KVS Seshasai, CEO, Pre-K Division, Lighthouse Learning Group and Dr Aravindan Selvaraj Co-Founder and Executive Director Kauvery Group of Hospitals

At EuroKids, the belief that a child’s wellbeing is shaped by health, safety, emotional security, and early learning experiences has been central to its philosophy of Child First. Safety First. for over 25 years. Through this association with Kauvery Hospital, EuroKids aims to create greater awareness among parents and caregivers about the importance of nurturing strong developmental foundations in the early years.

The partnership aligns with EuroKids’ Sariyaana Thodakkam (Right start) movement, a nationwide awareness initiative focused on educating families about the critical importance of the early years, particularly between the ages of 1 and 6, in shaping lifelong learning, wellbeing and development.

Research continues to show that the earliest years play a significant role in a child’s cognitive, social, emotional, and physical development. With this shared belief, EuroKids and Kauvery Hospital will work together to encourage conversations around child health, nutrition, growth milestones, emotional wellbeing, and age-appropriate development.

As part of the initiative, health and wellness programs, awareness sessions and health camps will be conducted across select EuroKids centres. These sessions will provide parents with access to expert guidance from healthcare professionals on key aspects of child health and overall wellbeing.

Speaking on the partnership, KVS Seshasai, CEO, Pre-K Division, Lighthouse Learning Group, said, “At EuroKids, we have always believed that a child’s earliest years are their most defining and that a truly Right Start encompasses not just learning, but health, safety and emotional wellbeing. Our partnership with Kauvery Hospital brings together two deeply complementary areas of expertise with a single shared purpose which is to give every child the strongest possible foundation for life. Through the Sariyaana Thodakkam movement, we hope to inspire a broader national conversation about what children truly need in their first six years and this collaboration is a meaningful step in that direction.”

Speaking on the collaboration, Dr. Aravindan Selvaraj, Co-Founder and Executive Director, Kauvery Group of Hospitals, said, “The foundation for lifelong health is laid in the early years of childhood. At Kauvery, we believe that empowering parents with the right knowledge on nutrition, growth, preventive care, and developmental wellbeing can make a meaningful difference in a child’s future. Our collaboration with EuroKids is an opportunity to bring healthcare expertise closer to families and support children in growing healthier, stronger and more confident during their most important developmental years.”

The collaboration reflects a shared commitment to building stronger support systems around young children. Through the Sariyaana Thodakkam movement, EuroKids seeks to encourage a broader societal conversation around what children truly need in their early years - safe environments, positive relationships, good health, proper nutrition, and developmentally appropriate learning experiences. The partnership with Kauvery Hospital further strengthens this vision by bringing medical expertise into the early childhood development ecosystem.

As part of Lighthouse Learning, India’s leading Early Childhood and K-12 Education group, EuroKids has been at the forefront of early childhood education for 25 years. With a network of more than 2,000 preschools across 560+ cities and having nurtured over 1 million children, EuroKids continues to champion initiatives that support children’s holistic development. Guided by the HEUREKA - The Visible Thinking Curriculum, grounded in Harvard Project Zero - and backed by TÜV Nord safety certification across every centre, EuroKids believes that every child deserves a Right Start, one that supports not only learning outcomes but also physical, emotional and social wellbeing.

By combining healthcare awareness with early childhood education, EuroKids and Kauvery Hospital aim to contribute towards healthier childhoods and better developmental outcomes for the next generation.

Kauvery Hospital is sponsoring women players participating in the Stephen Koshy International Masters Basketball Tournament 2026, which will be held from June 25 to 28 at the Sports Council International Indoor Stadium in Kottayam, Kerala.

Kauvery Hospital Supports Women Players Participating in the Stephen Koshy International Masters Basketball Tournament 2026

The tournament will feature 100 teams across the men’s and women’s categories. Kauvery Hospital will support 35 women players who will participate in four age categories: 30+, 35+, 40+, and 45+. from Phoenix India Academy Basketball Club. The women participants come from diverse personal and professional backgrounds, including working women, married women, homemakers and mothers, from different cities and regions, including Chennai, Bangalore, Dehradun, Mumbai, Punjab, Kerala, Coimbatore and Salem.

Through its support for the tournament, Kauvery Hospital aims to encourage active living, fitness, preventive health awareness and greater participation of women in sport. The initiative also highlights the importance of women continuing to prioritise their health, passion and personal fitness at every stage of life.

Speaking about the initiative, Dr. Manivannan Selvaraj, Managing Director, Kauvery Hospital, said, “At Kauvery Hospital, supporting this tournament is deeply meaningful for us because it celebrates women who continue to choose fitness, discipline and passion alongside their everyday responsibilities. Many of these women are professionals, homemakers, mothers and individuals who manage multiple roles in life, yet they step onto the court with remarkable energy and confidence. Their participation is a powerful reminder that health and self-care should never take a backseat, no matter the age or stage of life. Kauvery Hospital is proud to support women in sport and to stand with every woman who chooses to stay active, strong and inspired.”

The Stephen Koshy International Masters Basketball Tournament is expected to bring together experienced players, sports enthusiasts and supporters of active living, making it a strong platform to promote fitness, community participation and women’s empowerment through sport.

Kauvery Hospital continues to support initiatives that promote better health, preventive care, active lifestyles and stronger communities.

About Kauvery Hospital

Kauvery Hospital is a leading healthcare provider committed to delivering patient-centric, ethical and advanced medical care. With a strong focus on clinical excellence, preventive health and community wellbeing, Kauvery Hospital continues to support initiatives that encourage healthier lifestyles and meaningful community engagement.

Robotic intrathoracic (chest cavity) cancer surgery

The complex surgery was performed on a 36-year-old male patient, who was suffering from breathing difficulties. An endoscopy revealed a tumor located in the lower part of the windpipe. While he underwent a partial removal of the tumor at the outside hospital, he required definitive treatment involving complete removal of the residual tumor along with the affected lower segment of the windpipe.

The procedure was performed by the Department of Surgical Oncology at Kasturba Hospital, Manipal, led by Dr Naveena Kumar A N, with crucial support from the Department of Anesthesia. The robotic surgery involved complete removal of the tumor-affected lower part of the trachea (windpipe), just above the bifurcation, followed by reconstruction by joining the healthy ends of the windpipe.

What made the procedure especially challenging was the need to perform robotic surgery while maintaining continuous oxygenation of the lungs and keeping the ventilation tube inside the windpipe throughout the surgery. In a conventional open surgery, the patient would have required a large cut on the chest, resulting in greater pain, longer recovery, and a more visible scar. With minimally invasive robotic surgery, the patient recovered well and was discharged on the fourth day after surgery.

Essentially robotic surgeries are a boon and have several advantages over traditional surgery. The recovery of the patient is much faster, and minimal blood loss. Pain after surgery is less and faster recovery. This helps the patients to resume their normal life sooner.

The surgical team also included Dr Nawaz Usman, Dr Akhil Palod, Dr Ananth Balakrishnan, and Dr Preethi from the Department of Surgical Oncology, along with Professor Anitha N and Dr Shreya from the Department of Anesthesia.

At Kasturba Hospital, Manipal, the Department of Surgical Oncology, under the leadership of Dr Naveena Kumar A N, performs a wide spectrum of major robotic cancer surgeries involving the lung, thymus, esophagus (food pipe), stomach, rectum (large intestine), pancreas, liver, uterus, and kidney. Robotic surgery is also helping improve quality-of-life outcomes for patients through function-preserving and organ-saving procedures, such as avoiding permanent stoma in select rectal cancers or enabling part of the kidney removal in kidney cancer.

Expressing his happiness over the success of the complex surgery, Prof. Naveena Kumar A N, Department of Surgical Oncology, Kasturba Hospital, Manipal said, “This surgery represents one of the most technically demanding procedures in robotic cancer surgery, requiring precise coordination between the surgical and anesthesia teams to maintain the patient’s airway and oxygenation throughout. We are proud that our team could offer this minimally invasive option to our patient, sparing him a major chest incision (cut) and a long recovery. It reflects the level of advanced surgical care now available to patients in our region.”
 

Congratulating the team at this feat Dr Sudhakar Kantipudi, Chief Operating Officer, Teaching Hospitals, MAHE, said, “This achievement is a proud moment for Kasturba Hospital and reflects the skill and dedication of our doctors, nursing staff and technicians. We will continue to invest in advanced technology and expertise so that Kasturba Hospital can become a referral center for handling this kind of complex robotic cancer surgery in the future.”

With this achievement, Kasturba Hospital, Manipal, reaffirms its commitment to bringing the most advanced surgical technologies to patients in the region.

About Manipal Academy of Higher Education

Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE) is an Institution of Eminence Deemed to be University. MAHE offers over 400 specialisations across the Health Sciences (HS), Management, Law, Humanities & Social Sciences (MLHS), and Technology & Science (T&S) streams through its constituent units at campuses in Manipal, Mangalore, Bengaluru, Jamshedpur, and Dubai. With a remarkable track record in academics, state-of-the-art infrastructure, and significant contributions to research, MAHE has earned recognition and acclaim both nationally and internationally. In 2020, the Ministry of Education, Government of India, awarded MAHE the prestigious Institution of Eminence status. Currently ranked 3rd in the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) 2025 rankings, MAHE is the preferred choice for students seeking a transformative learning experience and enriching campus life, as well as for national and multinational corporations seeking top talent.

Coronary Artery Disease is no longer a condition affecting only the elderly, younger individuals are increasingly presenting with complex coronary blockages, making early detection and timely treatment more critical than ever. Common warning signs such as chest pain, shortness of breath, excessive fatigue, dizziness, and reduced exercise tolerance should never be ignored, as prompt medical attention can significantly improve outcomes.

The field of interventional cardiology has witnessed remarkable advancements over the past decade, enabling physicians to treat coronary blockages with greater precision, safety, and long-term effectiveness. Modern angioplasty techniques now include ultra-thin strut Drug-Eluting Stents (DES), specialized bifurcation stents for complex vessel anatomy, and long tapered stents designed to address extensive coronary lesions while maintaining optimal blood flow.

Beyond conventional stenting, metal-less angioplasty approaches are emerging as promising treatment options in the management of coronary artery disease. BioResorbable Scaffolds provide temporary vessel support before gradually dissolving over time, while Drug-Coated Balloons deliver anti-proliferative medication directly to the vessel wall without requiring a permanent implant. These innovations are particularly valuable in selected patient populations and align with the broader goal of preserving the natural physiology of the artery.

Dr. Kishore K S, Senior Interventional Cardiologist, Sagar Hospitals, Bengaluru

Speaking about the evolution of coronary interventions, Dr. Kishore K S, Senior Interventional Cardiologist, Sagar Hospitals, Bengaluru, said, "The philosophy of 'Leave Nothing Behind' is transforming the future of coronary interventions. While Drug-Eluting Stents (DES) continue to play a crucial role in treating complex coronary artery disease, newer treatment modalities such as BioResorbable Scaffolds (BRS) and Drug-Coated Balloons (DCB) are expanding our therapeutic options. These technologies allow us to tailor treatment based on the patient's condition while reducing the amount of permanent metallic implants within the coronary arteries. The ability to restore vessel function while potentially leaving nothing behind represents a significant step forward in patient-centric cardiac care."

Another critical challenge in contemporary angioplasty is the management of heavily calcified coronary lesions, which can make procedures technically demanding and impact treatment outcomes. Advances in calcium modification technologies are helping physicians prepare these difficult lesions more effectively before stent implantation.

Dr. Anand R. Shenoy, Consultant - Interventional Cardiologist, Manipal Hospitals, Bengaluru

Highlighting the importance of calcium management, Dr. Anand R. Shenoy, Consultant - Interventional Cardiologist, Manipal Hospitals, Bengaluru, said, "Coronary artery calcification remains one of the most challenging aspects of angioplasty. Adequate calcium management is essential to ensure optimal stent expansion and long-term procedural success. Today, advanced lesion preparation techniques and calcium modification technologies such as specialty balloons, atherectomy systems, and intravascular lithotripsy (IVL) enable us to treat complex calcified blockages more effectively than ever before. By addressing calcium appropriately before intervention, we can improve procedural outcomes, reduce complications, and ultimately enhance the quality of care delivered to patients with complex coronary artery disease."

While technological innovations continue to improve treatment outcomes, prevention remains the first line of defense against coronary artery disease. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle, regular physical activity, balanced nutrition, tobacco cessation, stress management, and routine health screenings can significantly reduce cardiovascular risk.

With the availability of advanced angioplasty solutions and increasing awareness about heart health, cardiologists believe that patients diagnosed with coronary artery disease today have access to safer, more personalized, and highly effective treatment options than ever before.

M3M Foundation facilitates HPV Vaccination for adolescent girls in Nuh, Haryana

Supporting the vision at the grassroots level, M3M Foundation, in collaboration with the Health Department, Haryana, has been driving an extensive HPV awareness campaign across Tauru Block in Nuh district to promote cervical cancer prevention and encourage HPV vaccination among 14-year-old girls.

Taking a pioneering approach towards health communication, M3M Foundation became one of the first CSR organisations in Haryana to design and deploy dedicated HPV awareness Information, Education and Communication (IEC) materials, developed by SYImpact Consulting. These innovative tools, including interactive Snake & Ladder and Ludo games, flip books, quiz cards, HPV awareness songs, informative reels and AI-powered storytelling modules, have helped make conversations around preventive healthcare more engaging and accessible.

What began as an awareness initiative has now translated into meaningful action. Through sustained mobilisation and community engagement, the campaign has facilitated the vaccination of more than 600 adolescent girls, surpassing its initial targets.

Spread across 84 villages and 54 Gram Panchayats of Tauru Block, including M.P. Ahir, Rathiwas, Khori Kalan, Charora, Padheni, Kalwari, Jaurasi, Shikarpur, Raheri, Chahalka and Jafrabad, among several others, the initiative has conducted over 90 awareness sessions and reached more than 60 government schools. More than 3,000 stakeholders, including school children, mothers, teachers, ASHA workers, health officials and community members, have been mobilised through the campaign.

At the beginning of the initiative, misinformation and social apprehensions posed significant challenges. Concerns regarding infertility, fears of adverse side effects, misleading narratives on social media and religious misconceptions often influenced community perceptions surrounding HPV vaccination.

However, continuous engagement and open dialogue gradually helped build trust among families. While some community members remained hesitant, many others responded positively after understanding the importance of cervical cancer prevention and early vaccination.

Dr. Nihal Singh Solanki, Senior Medical Officer, CHC Tauru, Haryana said, "Community awareness is key to the success of preventive healthcare initiatives. Our collaboration with M3M Foundation has helped strengthen acceptance of HPV vaccination and reach families more effectively at the grassroots level."

Sharing the experience, one of the beneficiary said, "Initially, we had many doubts after hearing different things from people and social media. But after attending the awareness session, we understood why the vaccine is important. After getting vaccinated, I feel more confident and now encourage other girls to learn about it and make informed decisions for their health."

Their stories reflect a larger shift taking place across communities, where awareness and dialogue are helping families move beyond fear and make informed healthcare decisions for their daughters.

Commenting on the initiative, Dr. Payal Kanodia, Chairperson and Trustee, M3M Foundation, said, "Inspired by Hon'ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi's vision of preventive healthcare, we are committed to ensuring that girls in underserved communities receive the right information and access to timely healthcare. Awareness has the power to transform communities and secure a healthier future for the next generation."

Through its continued partnership with the Health Department, Haryana, M3M Foundation remains committed to strengthening community health systems and ensuring that awareness translates into action, protecting the health and future of young girls across underserved communities.
 

About M3M Foundation
M3M Foundation is the philanthropic arm of the M3M Group, working across education, health, livelihoods, sports, and environment. With a reach across 22 states and over 1,300 villages, the Foundation has positively impacted more than 5 million lives, driven by a vision of inclusive, sustainable, and transformative nation-building.

Signed agreement exchanged between leaders of Kody Technolab Limited, Falcon Tech Robotics & Sccore AI Tech in Dubai, UAE

The engagement is structured for execution over the three-year term of the Agreement, with manufacturing and supply of Medigo units to commence in H1 of FY 2026-27 and continuing across the term. The Agreement is underpinned by a binding minimum purchase framework structured across biannual commercial periods, providing Kody Technolab Limited with structured commercial visibility through the term.

The Agreement positions Kody Technolab at the intersection of one of healthcare’s largest unmet needs and one of its fastest-growing markets. According to the WHO and World Bank, an estimated 4.5 billion people, over half the world’s population, lack full access to essential health services. Against this backdrop, leading industry research projects the global preventive healthcare market to grow from approximately USD 268.7 billion in 2023 to USD 585.6 billion by 2030, providing a substantial addressable market for AI-powered, autonomous healthcare screening platforms such as Medigo.

The Agreement establishes a tripartite commercial framework spanning manufacturing, distribution and worldwide deployment of Kody Technolab’s medical robotics platform. Kody Technolab will manufacture the Products on an exclusive worldwide basis. Falcon Tech Robotics LLC, Kody Technolab’s UAE-based joint venture, will undertake exclusive global distribution and commercial coordination. Sccore AI Tech Diagnostic Limited, UAE, will deploy and commercialize the Products across international markets.

Medigo AI-powered healthcare screening robot developed by Kody Technolab Limited

The Medigo Range

The Medigo range comprises four AI-powered healthcare screening robots, each engineered to deliver clinical-grade preventive screening within minutes, without dependence on specialised medical staff:

• Medigo Static - a stationary, autonomous health-screening robot designed for fixed deployments in primary health centres, corporate campuses, public institutions, and other high-footfall locations.

• Medigo Kids - a paediatric screening robot purpose-built for children’s health check-ups in schools, pediatric clinics and community child-health programmes.

• Medigo Women - a women’s health screening robot tailored for gender-specific preventive check-ups across maternal, reproductive and general wellness parameters.

• Medigo Mobile - a moving / robotic “health screening ATM” engineered for on-demand and last-mile deployments across transit hubs, rural outreach routes and high-footfall public spaces.

Each unit is built to screen for a broad spectrum of conditions across metabolic, cardiovascular, infectious, sensory and mental health categories, generate a consolidated report within minutes in the patient’s preferred language, and feed real-time anonymised data into institutional and government health dashboards.

The engagement represents a significant milestone in Kody Technolab’s strategy to scale its healthcare robotics business globally and strengthens the Company’s strategic presence in the UAE and other international markets. By combining Kody Technolab’s engineering platform with Falcon’s regional reach and Sccore’s deployment capabilities, the tripartite structure is designed to deliver Medigo-led screening infrastructure at scale across multiple geographies, reinforcing Kody Technolab’s positioning as a category-defining player in AI-powered healthcare robotics.

The Board believes this engagement marks a meaningful step in Kody Technolab’s international growth trajectory and reflects the strong commercial pull for the Company’s medical robotics platform.

Management Commentary

“This Agreement is a defining moment in our journey to take Kody Technolab’s healthcare robotics platform to global scale. The Medigo range has been engineered to address real screening needs across diverse populations, demographics and care settings, and the tripartite structure of this Agreement spanning exclusive worldwide manufacturing, global distribution through our UAE joint venture, and on-ground deployment by Sccore, gives us a powerful, integrated route to international markets. We see this as the start of a long-term, multi-geography deployment of our medical robotics platform, and we are committed to delivering at the quality, scale and pace that this opportunity demands,” Manav Subhashchandra Patel, Managing Director, Kody Technolab Limited.

“Sccore is proud to partner with Kody Technolab and Falcon Tech Robotics in bringing the Medigo platform to global markets. Access to timely, affordable preventive screening remains one of the most critical unmet needs of our time, and the Medigo range, engineered for clinical-grade screening, multilingual interaction and real-time data delivery, gives us a uniquely scalable platform to meet that need. We look forward to deploying Medigo at scale across diverse healthcare environments worldwide, in long-term partnership with Kody Technolab and Falcon,” Prashant Sawant, Chairman & MD, Sccore AI Tech Diagnostic Limited.

About Kody Technolab Limited

Kody Technolab Ltd is a leading deep tech company specializing in autonomous robotics solutions and AI-driven automation for commercial, retail, and industrial environments. With expertise in software engineering, autonomous navigation, and intelligent systems design, Kody Technolab Ltd develops scalable robotic platforms that power major deployments across the Middle East and Asia.

About Falcon Tech Robotics LLC

Falcon Tech Robotics is a UAE-based joint venture between Kody Technolab Ltd and Platinum Group for Businessmen Services LLC, dedicated to accelerating robotics adoption across the Middle East. The company deploys advanced AI-driven robots powered by Kody Technolab Ltd’s technology and supported by Platinum Group’s regional market presence.

About Sccore AI Tech Diagnostic Limited

Sccore AI Tech Diagnostic Limited is a UAE-based company engaged in the deployment and commercialization of AI-powered diagnostic and healthcare technology solutions across global markets.

Forward-looking Statements

This release contains forward-looking statements relating to the Company's plans, prospects, execution timelines and market estimates, which are subject to risks and uncertainties; actual results may differ materially, and the Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update any such statements.

(C) Baba Sai Kaliram Saheb ji with Fortis Mumbai team - Dr Vishal Beri, Dr S. Narayani, Ms Rinku Mavani & Dr Supriya Amey at the inauguration of Fortis Medical Centre in Ulhasnagar
 

Strategically located, the Fortis Medical Centre in Ulhasnagar has been designed as a comprehensive multi-specialty outpatient facility that brings expert medical care closer to residents of Ulhasnagar and neighboring communities. The centre offers consultations across a wide range of specialties including:

Dr. Avanish Saklani, Director-Surgical Oncology, Fortis Hospital Mulund & Kalyan (Onco Surgery)

Dr. Gurneet Singh Sawhney, Director-Stereotactic & Functional Neurosciences, Fortis Hospital Mulund (Deep Brain Stimulation & Functional Neurosurgery)

Dr. Haresh Dodeja, Director-Nephrology, Fortis Hospital Mulund & Kalyan (Renal Sciences)

Dr. Hrishikesh Salgaonkar, Consultant-Bariatric and Laparoscopic Surgery, Fortis Hospital Mulund (Bariatric & General Surgery)

Dr. Jayesh Sardhara, Director-MIS Neuro & Spine Surgery and Dr. Rushabh Chheda, Consultant-Neuro & Spine Surgery, Fortis Hospital Mulund & Kalyan (Neuro & Spine Surgery)

Dr. Priyanka Moule, Associate Consultant-HematoOncology & BMT, Fortis Hospital Mulund (Haematology)

Dr. Rachana Tataria, Consultant-Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery, Fortis Hospital Mulund (Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery)

Dr. Rakesh Lalla, Addl. Director-Neurology, Fortis Hospital Kalyan (Neurology)

Dr. Rathan Shetty, Consultant-Head & Neck Surgical Oncology, Fortis Hospital Mulund (Head & Neck Oncology)

Dr. Saurabh Patil, Senior Consultant-Urology & Uro-Oncology, Fortis Hospital Mulund (Urology)

Dr. Varun Bhatia, Consultant-Cardiology, Fortis Hospital Mulund (Cardiac Sciences)

Dr. Vikram Raut, Senior Consultant-Gastroenterology, Hepatobilliary Services, Liver Transplant, Fortis Hospital Mulund (Liver Sciences)

In addition to specialist consultations, the centre houses a dedicated 6-bed Dialysis unit to support patients requiring regular renal care and chronic disease management. The facility is further backed by Fortis Healthcare’s integrated clinical network, enabling patients to access multidisciplinary expertise and coordinated treatment pathways under one roof. Looking ahead, the centre plans to introduce oncology day-care services, strengthening access to cancer care for patients in the region.

The launch of the new Fortis Medical Centre in Ulhasnagar reflects Fortis Healthcare's continued focus on expanding its footprint beyond metropolitan centres, bringing specialist consultations, chronic disease management, and multidisciplinary clinical expertise closer to where patients live. Built on a patient-first philosophy, the centre reduces the need for long-distance travel for families while improving continuity of care and health outcomes for the community.

Speaking at the inauguration, Baba Sai Kaliram Saheb ji said, “Good health is the foundation of a happy and thriving community. In today’s fast-paced world, families often face challenges in accessing timely and specialized medical care, especially for the elderly, those living with chronic illnesses, and patients requiring regular treatment. The establishment of Fortis Medical Centre in Ulhasnagar is a meaningful step towards bringing quality healthcare closer to the people, reducing the burden of travel and making expert medical guidance more accessible. When healthcare is available within the community, it not only supports physical well-being but also provides comfort and reassurance to patients and their families during difficult times. It is heartening to see initiatives that prioritize the health and welfare of the community and contribute towards building a healthier future for all.”

The centre brings together specialists from multiple disciplines under one roof, enabling coordinated care for patients with complex and chronic health conditions. Through an integrated outpatient model, patients can access consultations, follow-up care, diagnostics coordination, and treatment planning seamlessly, improving convenience and clinical outcomes.

Dr S. Narayani, Business Head-Fortis Hospitals Maharashtra, said, “The launch of Fortis Medical Centre in Ulhasnagar marks an important step in our commitment to expanding access to quality healthcare across the city. As healthcare needs continue to evolve, it is essential to bring specialized medical expertise and comprehensive care closer to the communities we serve. This centre has been designed to provide patients with convenient access to consultations across multiple specialties, supported by a dedicated dialysis unit and a seamless transfer pathway to Fortis Hospitals in Kalyan and Mulund for advanced care when required. With plans to introduce oncology day-care services in the near future, we are building a healthcare ecosystem that not only addresses current healthcare requirements but is also equipped to meet the growing needs of the region in the years ahead.”

Beyond outpatient care, the centre is equipped to facilitate timely emergency response and patient transfers. In critical situations, patients can be rapidly referred and transferred to nearby hospitals or to Fortis Hospitals in Kalyan and Mulund, ensuring access to advanced tertiary and quaternary care whenever required. This integrated transfer network is expected to significantly enhance emergency preparedness and continuity of treatment, particularly for patients requiring specialized interventions.

Commenting on the launch, Dr Vishal Beri, Facility Director, Fortis Hospital Mulund, said, “At Fortis, our approach to healthcare is rooted in clinical excellence, evidence-based medical practices, and a strong commitment to patient-centric care. The launch of Fortis Medical Centre in Ulhasnagar enables us to extend these standards to a wider patient population by bringing experienced specialists and quality outpatient services closer to the community. By integrating local accessibility with the strengths of the broader Fortis healthcare ecosystem, we aim to ensure that patients receive timely, coordinated, and high-quality care at every stage of their healthcare journey.”

The Fortis Medical Centre is expected to play a vital role in addressing the growing healthcare needs of Ulhasnagar and surrounding areas, while further strengthening Fortis Healthcare’s mission of delivering accessible, affordable, and high-quality healthcare across India.

About Fortis Medical Centre, Ulhasnagar

Fortis Medical Centre is located at Ashirwad Hospital Road, Maratha Section 32, Opp. Bharat Gas, Nr. Shani Mandir, Ulhasnagar-4 (East) and appointments can be sought on 022 4111 4111 & www.fortishealthcare.com/location/fortis-hospital-mulund-mumbai.

About Fortis Healthcare Limited

Fortis Healthcare Limited is a leading integrated healthcare delivery service provider in India. The healthcare verticals of the company primarily comprise hospitals, diagnostics, and day care specialty facilities. Currently, the company operates 36 healthcare facilities (including JVs and O&M facilities) across 12 states and union territories. The Company’s network comprises over 6,000 operational beds (including O&M beds) and 400 diagnostics labs.

ABOUT IHH Healthcare (“IHH”)

IHH is a leading multinational healthcare provider shaping the future of care. Driven by our aspiration to Care. For Good., we unite medical excellence and innovation, pushing boundaries through our trusted brands such as Acibadem, Gleneagles, Fortis, Island, Mount Elizabeth, Pantai, Parkway and Prince Court. Across 10 countries, including Malaysia, Singapore, Türkiye, India and Greater China, our 70,000-strong team delivers world-class excellence every day, within and beyond our 140 healthcare facilities, including more than 80 hospitals. Our comprehensive services span the full healthcare continuum, from primary and ambulatory to quaternary care, complemented by diagnostics, imaging, rehabilitation, telehealth and home care. In partnership with our stakeholders, IHH is advancing value-based care, building a sustainable healthcare ecosystem and creating meaningful impact, as we work towards our vision to become the world’s most trusted healthcare services network.

For more information, please visit www.ihhhealthcare.com.

Kauvery Hospital, Tirunelveli

Participants who identified healthcare as one of Tirunelveli’s defining strengths were presented with laptops, smartphones, and smartwatches by Mr. Vairamuthu, Unit Head; Dr. Lakshmanan, Medical Administrator; and Dr. S. Kavu Devi, Consultant Neuroanaesthesia and Neurocritical Care, Kauvery Hospital, Tirunelveli.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Vairamuthu said, “Today, Tirunelveli has access to world-class healthcare services comparable to those available in major metropolitan cities. With the presence of advanced multispecialty hospitals and highly skilled medical professionals, people from Tirunelveli no longer need to travel to Chennai, Madurai, Trivandrum, or other major cities for advanced treatments. Through this campaign, we wanted to create greater awareness about the quality and range of healthcare services available locally.”

The event was held at the newly inaugurated building of Kauvery Hospital, Tirunelveli. Spread across 2 lakh sq. ft., the state-of-the-art facility is a 300-bed hospital offering comprehensive care across 25 medical specialties.

Kapiva Ayurveda Clinic Doctors

India's chronic disease burden is no longer confined to older populations. Chronic health conditions are increasingly affecting Indians in their twenties and thirties, a generation that is not only seeking holistic alternatives but actively looking for care systems that address the root cause of their conditions, not just the symptoms. According to a 2024 survey by the Government of India, nearly half of India's population has used Ayush systems for prevention or treatment of ailments, a reflection of how deeply the system is woven into everyday health decisions. The clinics are built for someone who has started a treatment plan and not been able to stay the course, and look to address a longstanding gap in the system: inconsistent outcomes driven by the absence of structured support after the first consultation.
 

At the centre of Kapiva's clinical model is a 45 to 60 minute in-depth Ayurvedic consultation focused on identifying root causes rather than surface symptoms. By comparison, the average doctor consultation in India lasts between 5 and 10 minutes, without a clear understanding of what is driving their condition. Each patient then receives a personalised Ayurvedic treatment plan designed to fit into a real daily routine, explained in plain language, and built to be followed rather than just prescribed. The third pillar is the effortless post-care guidance: structured follow-ups at Day 7, 14, and 21, with in-built ongoing support, ensuring patients are seen through to completion, all within a single integrated patient journey that combines doctor-led diagnosis, personalised nutrition guidance, lifestyle interventions, AI-enabled diagnostics, and where appropriate, Panchkarma and Abhyangam therapies.
 

Commenting on the launch, Ameve Sharma, Founder and CEO of Kapiva said, "To offer truly comprehensive Ayurvedic care, we realised that patients require a much deeper, highly personalised approach that goes beyond just a product. Delivering that level of care requires a dedicated physical setup. In many ways, this brings Kapiva full circle. This launch was born directly from conversations with our consumers who were seeking structured support. As a customer-first brand, Kapiva Ayurveda Clinics are our way of ensuring they receive the end-to-end care they deserve."
 

Over the last ten years, Kapiva has built a stronghold in chronic wellness products that address health problems from the root cause. The clinic model extends that same philosophy into structured clinical care for chronic disease management, where consultation, product use, and follow-up are part of one continuous Ayurvedic treatment journey.
 

Kapiva Ayurveda Clinics currently operate in three locations in Bengaluru: Whitefield, HSR Layout and Sarjapur Road, with each clinic offering consultations for diabetes, heart health, chronic pain and women's health. The company plans to expand across additional Bengaluru locations before evaluating multi-city growth. The launch follows the brand’s announcement of the Kapiva Innovation Fund (KIF), a Rs. 50 crore corpus dedicated to advancing research and innovation in Ayurveda, and marks the company's broader ambition to build a holistic Ayurveda healthcare brand beyond products. 

About Kapiva
Kapiva is a homegrown science-backed Ayurveda brand on a mission to make evidence-based Ayurveda simple, modern, and accessible for everyday wellness. Backed by a dedicated R&D vertical of scientists and researchers, Kapiva develops authentic formulations using science-backed Ayurveda, standardised herbs, and high-quality ingredients. Kapiva has been a disruptor in the Ayurvedic industry by introducing innovation in product formats that can be easily integrated into people's daily routines. Kapiva has expanded globally with its wholly owned subsidiaries in the USA and Middle East, and has a strong offline presence across 50,000+ stores in India. One of India’s most trusted Ayurveda brands. 

Website: www.kapiva.in

Nikhil Kamath in conversation with Rajeev Juneja, Co-Founder and Managing Director of Mankind Pharma, and GV Prasad, Co-Chairman and CEO of Dr. Reddy's Laboratories

Together, Juneja and Prasad bring more than six decades of experience building businesses that have helped shape India's position as the pharmacy of the world. Through personal stories and industry insights, they discuss how medicines are discovered, manufactured and commercialized, why India remains a global leader in generic drugs, and what it will take for the country to emerge as a stronger innovation-driven pharmaceutical hub.

Reflecting on Mankind Pharma's journey, Rajeev Juneja shares how the company was built after its founding in 1995 with just Rs. 69,000 in capital and a strategy focused on markets often overlooked by larger players. While established pharmaceutical companies concentrated on metros and large hospitals, Mankind expanded its presence across smaller markets in Western Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Punjab, prioritizing depth of distribution over breadth. The company differentiated itself by pricing products 40 to 60 percent below competitors, making medicines more accessible to consumers. Today, Mankind Pharma is India's fourth-largest pharmaceutical company with revenues exceeding Rs. 40,000 crore.

GV Prasad reflects on joining Dr. Reddy's Laboratories in 1990, when the company's total group revenue was less than Rs. 100 crore, and helping build it into a nearly USD 3 billion global business spanning generics, biosimilars and proprietary drug discovery. He explains the fundamental differences between generics, biologics and innovative medicines, while highlighting both India's strengths and limitations within the global pharmaceutical value chain.

A key theme of the discussion is India's next growth frontier. While India has established itself as the world's leading supplier of affordable generic medicines, Prasad notes that significantly greater value is created through innovation and the discovery of new therapies. The conversation explores emerging treatment areas such as GLP-1 drugs, the economics of drug development, and the investments required to build a globally competitive innovation ecosystem.

The episode also examines India's position relative to China. Juneja and Prasad discuss China's evolution from a low-cost manufacturing destination to a global force in pharmaceutical innovation, noting that 29 percent of all new cancer drugs are now originating from Chinese companies. The discussion highlights the importance of long-term capital, scientific talent, research infrastructure and institutional support in driving innovation-led growth.

Addressing the ongoing conversation around Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs), the two leaders offer perspectives on manufacturing resilience and supply chain competitiveness. Prasad argues that India has not lost its ability to manufacture APIs but rather faced economic challenges that shifted production elsewhere, while Juneja discusses how Indian companies are increasingly partnering with and licensing molecules from global innovators to bring advanced therapies to patients more quickly.

Beyond industry trends, the episode provides valuable insights for young professionals considering careers in pharmaceuticals. Drawing on their own experiences — from Juneja's early years as a medical representative to Prasad's journey of helping build a global pharmaceutical enterprise — both leaders emphasize the breadth of opportunities available across science, research, manufacturing, sales, entrepreneurship and healthcare innovation.

Speaking on the episode, Rajeev Juneja, said, "What you hate becomes your biggest lesson. Going to that pharmacy, sweeping, buying from the wholesale market, I hated it. But that is where I learned how the market really works."

GV Prasad added, "India is the generic pharmacy of the world. That's a good foundation. But the next frontier is finding new drugs, and I think the next ten years will be extremely interesting for Indian pharma."

Commenting on the conversation, Nikhil Kamath, said, "This conversation made clear something I hadn't quite understood before, that by volume, India is the pharmacy of the world, but by revenue, we're barely a rounding error. The real question, and these two men have spent their careers answering it, is how that changes."

The episode is available now on YouTube.

About WTF with Nikhil Kamath

WTF is a long-form conversation series hosted by entrepreneur and investor Nikhil Kamath. Each episode brings together builders, thinkers, and industry leaders for extended, unscripted conversations on business, ideas, and the texture of how things actually get done. Past guests include Elon Musk, Bill Gates, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Rishi Sunak, and Akshata Murty. 

Kauvery Hospital launched world's advanced Pulsed Field Ablation systems to treat heart rhythm disorders

The programme introduces two of the world’s most advanced PFA technologies-Medtronic PulseSelect™ at Alwarpet and Biosense Webster Varipulse™ at Vadapalani, the latter integrated with an advanced 3D cardiac mapping system.

This is the first time that both PulseSelect™ and Varipulse™, along with a 3D mapping-integrated PFA platform, have been introduced in Tamil Nadu. This milestone further reinforces Kauvery Hospitals’ position at the forefront of innovation in cardiac electrophysiology and advanced heart rhythm care.

To mark the launch, leading international electrophysiology experts from the United States visited Chennai and collaborated with the Kauvery Hospitals team to initiate the PFA programme and support the first procedures.

Pulsed Field Ablation (PFA) is a next-generation treatment for heart rhythm disorders, particularly atrial fibrillation (AF), one of the most common cardiac arrhythmias. Unlike conventional ablation techniques that use heat (radiofrequency ablation) or extreme cold (cryoablation), PFA uses precisely controlled electrical pulses to selectively target and eliminate the cells responsible for abnormal heart rhythms.

This process, known as electroporation, enables targeted treatment of affected heart tissue while minimising impact on surrounding structures such as the oesophagus, phrenic nerve, and blood vessels. As a non-thermal technology, PFA represents a significant advancement in both safety and procedural efficiency.

With growing global clinical experience, PFA is increasingly being recognised as one of the most important recent advances in the management of cardiac arrhythmias.

The launch event was attended by Dr. N.S. Sivakadaksham, veteran cardiologist and Chief Guest, who welcomed the introduction of this transformative technology and highlighted its potential to improve outcomes for patients with heart rhythm disorders.

During the event, he also inaugurated Kauvery Hospitals’ new “Heart Rhythm Package”—a specially designed, affordable evaluation programme aimed at enabling early diagnosis and expert care for patients experiencing symptoms such as palpitations, breathlessness, dizziness, unexplained fatigue, or episodes of rapid heartbeat.

The package has been developed to promote early detection and timely treatment, which can significantly improve long-term outcomes and quality of life.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Deep Chandh Raja, Director of Cardiac Electrophysiology, Kauvery Hospitals, said, “Three patients were successfully treated at both centers with these procedures. One of the patients is a 69-year female with recurrent palpitations for 2 years. She tried different medicines for her irregular heart beats without any success. PFA procedure was performed within one hour through a key hole access in the right groin. She got discharged the very next day on minimum medicines. The safety, efficacy and fastness makes PFA a unique technology. We are proud to bring this next-generation treatment to Tamil Nadu.”

In addition to Pulsed Field Ablation, Kauvery Hospitals’ Department of Cardiac Electrophysiology offers comprehensive heart rhythm care, including advanced diagnostic services such as ECG, Holter monitoring, and electrophysiology studies, along with specialised arrhythmia clinics. The team also performs a wide range of complex ablation procedures and device therapies such as pacemakers, defibrillators, and cardiac resynchronisation therapy. Supported by state-of-the-art 3D mapping systems and a multidisciplinary team, the department delivers end-to-end care for even the most complex heart rhythm disorders. 

Dr. Aravindan Selvaraj, Co Founder and Executive Director, Kauvery Group of Hospitals, added, “At Kauvery Hospitals, we are committed to bringing proven, evidence-based innovations to our patients. Technologies that simplify procedures, enhance safety, and improve outcomes are central to our approach. The introduction of PFA reflects our continued commitment to delivering world-class cardiac care and ensuring access to the latest global advancements.”

With the simultaneous launch of both PulseSelect™ and Varipulse™ platforms, Kauvery Hospitals continues to strengthen its leadership in advanced cardiac care, offering patients across Tamil Nadu, neighbouring states, and international destinations access to some of the most innovative heart rhythm treatments available today.

A team of physicians led by Dr. Sweta Sahu is determined to change that — one daily activity at a time.
 

A doctor-led brain wellness initiative designed to support healthy ageing
 

Their initiative, ActiveMind Daily — part of the healthcare venture BlueprintRx — is now inviting 50 founding families to join a 10-day pilot of a doctor-designed brain wellness programme built specifically for older adults in Indian homes. Simple, screen-free, and grounded in science, the programme delivers one short daily activity targeting memory, language, attention, reflection, and family connection.
 

Filling a Need Families Don’t Know they have
India's elderly population is expanding at an unprecedented rate — yet conversations around brain health prevention remain largely absent from everyday elder care. Clinically, conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, and heart disease are routinely managed. Cognitive engagement, combating loneliness, and meaningful mental stimulation rarely receive the same attention — until decline becomes impossible to ignore.
 

Built for Real Indian Families
Unlike conventional wellness applications, ActiveMind Daily requires no login and no screen time from seniors. The programme is designed around the rhythms of Indian family life. Activities can be completed independently, with light family support, or through a brief phone call between a parent and an adult child living away from home.
 

Daily prompts draw on culturally familiar themes — childhood festival memories, beloved songs, regional proverbs, and food traditions — crafted to feel like conversation, not clinical exercises.
 

Reminders are delivered via WhatsApp or phone call, and progress is easy to track. Families who remain consistent through the first seven days receive a surprise gift. And if a day is missed, the programme accommodates catch-up sessions — because the goal, as the team emphasises, is rhythm, not perfection.
 

A Doctor-led Team with a Long-term Commitment

ActiveMind Daily is built by physicians who share a common belief: that brain health deserves the same everyday attention we give to the heart.
 

Dr. Sweta Sahu, Founder, is a physician and researcher with research and clinical experience at Johns Hopkins, the Cleveland Clinic, and the University of Alabama at Birmingham. She is a recipient of the American Heart Association’s 2025 Paul Dudley White International Scholar Award and has contributed to over 100 publications spanning cardiovascular medicine, gastroenterology, and population health.
 

"Brain wellness cannot wait for symptoms. Our goal is to make daily cognitive engagement as natural as a morning cup of chai — familiar, effortless, and something the whole family looks forward to.’”

Dr. Sri Sravya Thungathurthi, Physician and Co-founder of ActiveMind Daily, combines clinical training with a strong interest in healthy aging and preventive medicine. Through her exposure to healthcare systems in both India and the United States, she became increasingly interested in how early, proactive approaches to health can improve quality of life long before disease develops. Through ActiveMind Daily, she is helping raise awareness and build practical tools that promote cognitive wellness and meaningful family engagement for older adults in India.
 

“We designed these activities to meet families where they are—not in a clinic, but in their living rooms, around their dining tables, and in their everyday moments. Brain health is one of the most overlooked aspects of healthy ageing in India. In a world increasingly driven by short-form content, constant distractions, and passive consumption, we risk losing curiosity, creativity, and meaningful mental engagement. To me, ActiveMind Daily is a way to encourage a culture where keeping the mind active becomes a daily habit—not out of fear of decline, but as a celebration of lifelong learning, curiosity, and connection.”
 

ActiveMind Daily is supported by an expanding network of doctors, young medical interns, and students of Indian origin studying in U.S. high schools who work alongside its physician leadership team to contribute to research, programme development, participant feedback, and ongoing improvements. Together, they help ensure the initiative continues to evolve, adapt, and remain deeply relevant to the real-world needs of Indian seniors and their families.
 

The programme's activity framework is guided by evidence-based public health guidance on cognitive health and healthy ageing from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the National Institute on Ageing (NIA).
 

Join the founding pilot
The 10-day founding families pilot is now open and strictly limited to 50 families in the first batch. Families may begin with a free 30-second brain wellness check and sample three activities at no cost, or register directly through the ActiveMind Daily website.

Website: activeminddaily.in/check

Kauvery Hospital, Vadapalani, has successfully performed complex robotic colorectal cancer surgeries on three overweight and medically high-risk patients between 45-60 age group. Each patient weighed over 100 kilograms and had a BMI exceeding 38-40, along with associated medical conditions including diabetes, underlying cardiac issues, previous abdominal surgeries, and prior radiotherapy. Despite these added complexities, all three patients recovered rapidly and were discharged within four days of surgery.
 

Kauvery Hospital, Vadapalani
 

The patients were diagnosed with complex colorectal cancers, including very low rectal cancers and colon tumours located deep within the pelvis, an anatomically challenging region to operate on, particularly in overweight individuals and those with a history of prior abdominal surgeries or radiotherapy.

The surgeries were performed over three consecutive days by renowned robotic GI and colorectal surgeon Dr. Swaminathan Sambandham along with a multidisciplinary surgical and critical care team. The procedures were completed without large abdominal incisions. In an advanced minimally invasive approach aimed at reducing surgical trauma, the cancerous specimens were retrieved through the stoma site itself, thereby avoiding the need for additional abdominal cuts.

Despite the complexity and high-risk nature of the procedures, all three patients were mobilised early after surgery, experienced significantly less pain, and were discharged within just four days, an outcome considered highly notable in complex colorectal cancer surgeries involving obese and medically compromised patients.

Speaking about the procedures, Dr. Swaminathan Sambandham said, “These were among the most technically challenging colorectal cancer surgeries because of the patients’ obesity and associated medical conditions. Operating deep within the pelvis in overweight patients, especially those with previous surgeries or radiation history, is extremely demanding. Robotic surgery provides enhanced precision, better visualisation, and greater control, allowing us to perform these procedures safely while significantly reducing trauma to the patient.”

In his comments, Dr Aravindan Selvaraj, Co-founder and Executive Director, Kauvery Group of Hospitals, said, “Traditionally, such cases are considered surgically demanding due to restricted operating space, higher chances of blood loss, wound complications, infections, prolonged recovery, and increased post-operative risks. However, the surgical team at our hospital chose to manage all three cases using a completely robotic minimally invasive approach. The patients’ early mobilisation and discharge within four days despite the complexity of their condition reflects the advantages of advanced robotic surgery when combined with meticulous surgical planning and multidisciplinary care.”

The successful completion of these three consecutive complex robotic cancer surgeries further strengthens Kauvery Hospital Vadapalani’s growing expertise in robotic gastrointestinal and colorectal cancer surgery. The hospital continues to advance minimally invasive cancer care by combining cutting-edge robotic technology with highly specialised surgical expertise to deliver safer procedures, faster recovery, and improved patient outcomes even in the most challenging cases.

Dr. Devi Shetty - Narayana Health

The HIMSS AMAM framework is among the world’s leading benchmarks for assessing how healthcare organisations use data, analytics and AI to strengthen clinical outcomes and patient experience. Spread across seven stages, the model evaluates how deeply these capabilities are embedded into day-to-day decision-making. Stages 6 and 7 represent a highly advanced level of maturity, where predictive and near real-time intelligence are integrated into clinical and operational workflows at scale.

The recognition reflects Narayana Health’s sustained focus over the last decade on building a strong analytics foundation that supports decision-making across the organisation. What makes the milestone particularly noteworthy is that these capabilities have been developed and scaled within the cost-sensitive realities of the Indian healthcare ecosystem.

Reflecting on what shaped this journey, Dr. Devi Shetty, Founder and Chairman of Narayana Health, noted that the predominantly self-pay nature of Indian healthcare influenced the organisation’s analytics strategy from the very beginning. Without the cushion of insurance, gaps in bed utilisation, avoidable readmissions and prolonged hospital stays translate directly into out-of-pocket costs for patients and families. He said, “That reality pushed us to build operational and financial precision into every decision. We gave senior doctors visibility into metrics such as length of stay, procedure material costs, blood transfusions, re-exploration after surgery, mortality, morbidity and infection rates. Over time, this discipline has helped us steadily reduce mortality and morbidity, while improving productivity and keeping care within reach of our patients.”

Over the years, Narayana Health has evolved from conventional reporting structures into an integrated enterprise-wide analytics ecosystem supporting hundreds of use cases across clinical care, hospital operations and resource planning. The organisation has consistently invested in innovation and digital capability development to remain ahead of the curve as healthcare systems globally move towards data-driven models of care.

Commenting on the milestone, Dr. Emmanuel Rupert, Managing Director and Group CEO, Narayana Health, said, “Healthcare systems globally are being reshaped by the ability to use data meaningfully and responsibly. At Narayana Health, we recognised early on that analytics would be central to delivering better outcomes for patients at scale, while remaining grounded in the realities of Indian healthcare delivery. Achieving this level of validation reflects years of focused effort across teams, and reinforces our belief that world-class innovation can be built within India, for India.”

Today, analytics capabilities, powered by Medha AI, support a wide range of functions across the network, from improving patient flow and reducing waiting times to optimising workforce and bed utilisation. The organisation has also developed and deployed several in-house technology solutions designed around high-volume clinical workflows. One such example is Medha Scribe, an ambient documentation platform implemented in echocardiography workflows at Narayana Institute of Cardiac Sciences. By capturing findings during procedures and automatically populating reporting fields, the solution has significantly reduced report turnaround times while enabling clinicians to continue working within familiar workflows. Similar capabilities are now being extended across radiology, outpatient consultations and operation theatre documentation. In parallel, structured clinical data systems have supported the development of India-specific research and predictive models, including the NH Pre-Operative Risk Score for CABG surgeries and AI-assisted ECG models aimed at enabling earlier detection of cardiac abnormalities, particularly in resource-constrained settings.

Mr. Vivek Rajagopal, Group Chief Analytics & AI Officer, added, “Our focus has been to make analytics practical, accessible and deeply embedded into everyday healthcare delivery rather than treating it as a standalone technology layer. We have built a unified ecosystem where clinical, operational and financial insights come together to help teams make faster and more consistent decisions. The HIMSS Stage 6 validation reflects not just technology maturity, but also the culture, governance and cross-functional collaboration required to operationalise analytics meaningfully at scale.”

Beyond the validation itself, the HIMSS AMAM assessment process also helped strengthen governance frameworks around analytics implementation, monitoring and accountability across the organisation. The external review examined both technical capability and measurable real-world impact across areas such as patient safety, quality of care and resource management. With this recognition, Narayana Health joins a select group of healthcare organisations globally to achieve this level of analytics maturity, marking another step forward in its continuing effort to build scalable, technology-enabled and patient-centric healthcare systems.

About Narayana Health
Narayana Health, founded by Dr. Devi Shetty and headquartered in Bengaluru, is a leading presence in the global healthcare landscape. As one of the largest healthcare providers in India, Narayana Health operates a comprehensive range of primary, secondary and super-speciality tertiary care facilities across India and the Caribbean. The group’s Centres of Excellence in various medical domains, a team of 18,822 dedicated professionals, including 3,868 skilled doctors and specialists, and a relentless focus on patient well-being and clinical excellence underscore its position as a beacon of hope and healing in the healthcare industry. Narayana One Health (NH Integrated Care) and Narayana Health Insurance are subsidiaries of Narayana Health.

For more information, visit https://www.narayanahealth.org.

Basic Life Support and Automated External Defibrillator (AED) awareness and training program

AED is a life-saving device used during sudden cardiac arrest. It can quickly assess the heart’s rhythm and deliver a controlled electrical shock when required, helping restore normal heart function and significantly improving survival chances. As part of its ongoing commitment to community health and public safety, Kauvery Hospital had earlier donated four AED devices to Salem Railway Station to improve emergency medical response infrastructure at the station. 

The training program was attended by Dr. Sivakumar, Chief Medical Officer, Southern Railway, along with the Railway Station Master and Railway Station Manager. The training was designed to ensure that railway staff are equipped with the knowledge and practical skills required to respond effectively during sudden cardiac arrests and other medical emergencies until advanced medical care becomes available.

The session was led by senior emergency medicine specialists from Kauvery Hospital, who provided hands-on training on BLS techniques, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), and the proper use of an AED. Through live demonstrations and interactive learning sessions, participants gained valuable insights into recognising medical emergencies and delivering timely first-response care that can significantly improve survival outcomes.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Mubeena Anjum, Consultant - Emergency Medicine, Kauvery Hospital, Salem, highlighted the critical importance of immediate intervention during cardiac emergencies. She emphasised that timely CPR and early defibrillation can substantially increase the chances of survival and that empowering frontline personnel in high-footfall public locations such as railway stations can save precious lives.