The Hindu Business Line : Apollo Hospitals installing Rs 30-cr scanning device

Dr Pratap C. Reddy, Chairman, Apollo Hospitals group, along with his daughter Ms Sangita Reddy, Executive Director (Operation), Apollo Hospitals, and Mr Nizar Mamdani, Executive Director, International Healthcare Services of Nebraska Medical Center of Omaha, after a press conference in Hyderabad on Friday. — A. Roy Chowdhury

Hyderabad , Aug. 27

APOLLO Hospitals is setting up a Rs 30-crore PET-CT scanning device next month, in association with the Singapore-based Gleneagles group, at its Hyderabad centre. It is the first such installation in entire Asia.

Announcing this here on Friday, Dr Prathap C. Reddy, Chairman of Apollo Hospitals group, said the image taken from the scan gives detailed anatomy and biological processes at the molecular level of internal organs and tissues from one single non-invasive diagnostic procedure.

A combination of PET (Positron Emission Tomography) and CT (Computed Tomography), the new device makes it possible to produce a biograph image and measurements.

The device would trigger a revolution in cancer management by reducing the number of diagnostic tests.

It would also have applications in cardiac problems and neurosciences. Initially, the hospital would charge Rs 25,000 for a test.

Ms Sangita Reddy, Director of Apollo Hospitals, said the hospital would get the Joint Commission International (JCI) certification in the next 12-18 months. The hospital has allocated Rs 8 crore to upgrade the facilities in order to achieve the JCI standards. "We have already spent Rs 6 crore," she said.

It has targeted to achieve Rs 7 crore from patients from abroad this financial year.

"We will increase the bed strength to 8,000 beds by the end of 2005," Ms Sangita Reddy said.

The hospital has tied up with the Nebraska Medical Center of University of Nebraska for exchange of medical knowledge.

Mr Nizar Mamdani, Executive Director (International Healthcare Services), said the centre would offer educational programmes for the Apollo group.

Meanwhile, the hospital has launched a campaign to reduce road accidents, marking the 16th anniversary of its Hyderabad centre.

It has also tied up with traffic police and TV9 (a 24-hour Telugu news channel) in this regard.

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