Actor Suriya Inaugurates the First Ever Apollo Personalized Health Check at Apollo Ayanambakkam

CHENNAI, September 27, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --

- Suriya Pledges to Protect his Health Along with Dr. Prathap C Reddy and 800 Others

- Apollo Hospitals is the Pioneer of Personalized Health Checks in India

'Prevention is better than cure', is something that is preached by one and all, but practiced by a few. A greater awareness of one's health status aided by preventive health check-ups is the best solution rather than reactive healthcare. To this end, popular actor Suriya inaugurated the first ever Apollo Personalized Health Check at Apollo Ayanambakkam in the city today.

Having pioneered preventive health checks in India - three decades and 8.5 million checks later - Apollo Hospitals has decided to take health checks to the next level. With this inaugural ceremony, Apollo is now also the pioneer of Personalized Health Checks (PHCs) in India.

The new health check process will involve a pre-test assessment of an individual's health by a health assessment consultant, based on which a package of tests is designed to cater to the specific needs of the customer. This will be followed by taking samples from the customer and preparation of a detailed report, which in turn will lead to a personalized consultation by a physician for that individual. Thus, while there will be a core set of tests that are applicable to the particular customer type - based on age and gender, there will also be an additional set of tests unique to the individual as prescribed by the health assessment consultant.

The personalized health checks will result in the best possible medical outcomes for the individual as opposed to a 'one size fits all' master health check. The current process of health checks is more standardized rather than being personalized to a person's unique needs.

Pledging to protect his health at Apollo Ayanambakkam, actor Suriya said, "People should realize that protecting their health throughout their life can prevent and control chronic illnesses, and in the long run reduce healthcare costs. I'm glad to support Apollo Hospitals in their endeavour to spread the message of preventive healthcare today."  

"In the panoramic landscape of the country's healthcare needs, there is an ever-widening gap of supply vs. demand of hospital beds. The only way to try and bridge this gap is by preventing disease rather than treating it. Personalized health checks will ensure that the customer gets the most accurate and effective diagnosis that is best suited to his unique needs and in due course, prevent that individual from contracting a disease," said Dr. Prathap C Reddy, Chairman, Apollo Hospitals Group on the occasion.

By the year 2025, a five-fold increase in cancer rates is predicted - 1.5 million new cases will be added every year. Around 80 million people will be affected by diabetes and 60 million people with heart disease. Non-communicable and lifestyle-related diseases are on the rise and will be the cause for 75% of all mortality by the year 2020. Unfortunately, the diseases are contracted long before the patient displays any symptoms. The 3 crucial steps to handling such diseases are prevention, detection and management.

For the common man, the choice regarding health is simple: Either invest a relatively small amount in order to stay in good health, or pay a huge amount later to treat the disease that is bound to eventually hit that person. Weigh the relatively inexpensive cost of regular health check-ups against the enormous expense of major care such as cancer treatment or long-term home healthcare visits by a nurse or health aide, and the obvious route is the first one.

About Apollo Ayanambakkam

Apollo Hospitals, Ayanambakkam is the 50th hospital in the Apollo network, equipped with the latest in cutting-edge technology and staffed with expert doctors and patient care personnel. Ayanambakkam, a suburb of Chennai, is a bustling centre that is home to a number of colleges and schools, industries and residences. The 260 bedded facility, spread over almost 135,000 sq. ft, aims to provide tertiary care across several key specialities - with special emphasis on cardiology and cardiothoracic surgery, orthopaedics and trauma.

About Apollo Hospitals

In 1983, Dr Prathap C Reddy, the architect of modern healthcare in India had launched the country's first corporate hospital -Apollo Hospitals Chennai. Over three decades, it has emerged as Asia's foremost integrated healthcare organizations with 61 hospitals, 1517 pharmacies and 102 diagnostic clinics. The Apollo Hospitals Group also offers health insurance services, healthcare IT services and has clinical research divisions with a focus on epidemiological studies, stem cell research and genetic research.

With a goal to develop skilled health human resources, the Apollo Hospitals Group currently has 1 medical college, 8 nursing colleges, 3 nursing schools, 2 management institutes, 1 physiotherapy college and 15 paramedical programmes affiliated to state medical universities under its not for profit organizations - Apollo Hospitals Educational Trust, Chennai and Apollo Hospitals Educational Research Foundation, Hyderabad. Collaborating with the Ministry of Finance, Government of India initiative of the National Skill Development Corporation, Apollo Meds kills Ltd plans to contribute to the skilling requirements of the country by adding 4 lakh healthcare professionals to the industry by 2022.

Honouring Apollo Hospitals' commitment to healthcare, the Government of India had issued a commemorative stamp, the first ever for a healthcare organization. Dr Prathap C Reddy, Chairman, Apollo Hospitals Group was conferred the prestigious Padma Vibhushan in recognition of his unparalleled contribution to healthcare. For 30 years, Apollo Hospitals has continuously excelled and maintained leadership in medical innovation.

Primary Media Contact: Parul Chabbra, [email protected], 91-9810588410

Secondary Media Contact: Kusum Sahijpal, [email protected], 91-9999973090