Apollo Chief Executive Dr. Hariprasad addressing key health stakeholders (not in the picture) meeting recently. Apollo Hospital has always believed in provision of quality medical care to its patients who come from around the world.’
AS the forerunner of integrated healthcare in Asia as well as globally, Apollo hospital through its futuristic vision has been able to maintain a position of strength at every point of the healthcare delivery chain. Boasting a state of the art medical facility the institution has seen its reputation spread across various African countries, Tanzania being amongst them.
Apollo Hospitals is a well-knowngroup amongst Tanzanians, as several top government officials, businessmen and women, and hundreds of heart patients are known to have received specialized treatment from the facilities. Offering world renowned medical services at a fraction of other leading international centers,has been Apollo Hospital’s drive for medical tourism. Apollo has today grown into the premier destination for various Tanzanians seeking advanced health care solutions. Recent noteworthy achievements include the successful surgery separation of Tanzanian conjoined twins.
Dr. Prathap C Reddy, the architect of modern Indian healthcare, launched the first corporate hospital in India in 1983 an integrated healthcare company.The Apollo Hospitals Group has a network of over 8,000 beds across 50 hospitals, over 1600 pharmacies, diagnostic clinics, health insurance services and clinical research divisions with a focus on epidemiological studies, stem cell and genetic research. The Apollo Hospitals Group is the busiest transplant program in the world today.
In Tanzania there is a concern and growing evidence of escalating burden of the main types of NCDs (Non Communicable Diseases), these are cardiovascular diseases, cancer, diabetes and chronic respiratory diseases. The concern is not just health related but also economic because NCDs are often accompanied by long standing disabilities which cause direct economic impact on households and communities both through the uptake of health services and goods that divert expenditure, and also impact on levels of income or labour productivity.
Tanzanians spend in the regions of $70 – 80 million annually on specialized treatment abroad. The country’s current capacity to treat heart diseases, open heart surgery, cancer, kidney problems and neurosurgery is very low, andmany people are choosing to travel abroadto Indian hospitals such as Apollo Hospitals being the preferred destination.
Heart disease is the second leading cause of death in Tanzania after malaria, claiming 287 lives a day or 104,755 lives a year, according to the Tanzanian Cardiac Hospital Foundation. “In the whole of Tanzania, there is no successful specialized cardiac treatment facility. 20% of all the deaths in country stems from lack of medical facilities and poverty. Those who can afford treatment must travel out of the country,” says the Foundation.
Over the past three decades Apollo Hospitals’ transformative journey has forged a legacy of excellence in Indian healthcare. The Group has continuously set the agenda and led by example in the blossoming private healthcare space. One of Apollo’s significant contributions has been the adoption of clinical excellence as an industry standard. Being the pioneers of the concept – the group was the first to invest in the pre-requisites that led to international quality accreditation like the JCI (Joint Commission International) and also developed centres of excellence in Cardiac Sciences, Orthopaedics, Neurosciences, Emergency Care, Cancer and Organ Transplantation.
Along with excellence the Apollo philosophy rests on the pillars of technological superiority, a warm patient- centric approach, a clear and distinct cost advantage and an edge in forward-looking research. Apollo’s spectacular success rests on sustained commitment and investments in each of these pillars. India and Tanzania are closely linked through diverse geographical, historical, cultural, political, economic, commercial and other ties and the establishment of the facilities in Tanzania will further the bilateral relations between the two countries.