JointVenture

Apollo, Lupin unveil Country's First Disease Management Plan

Apollo Hospitals Group has joined hands with Lupin Limited, a leading pharma major, to create the first Disease Management Programme (DMP) for bronchial asthma and chronic bronchitis (COPD) in the name of Apollo's BreatheEazy Clinic. George Eapen, CEO, Apollo Hospitals and Preetish Toraskar, Senjor General Manager, Sales and Marketing signed this landmark agreement. "As per PricewaterhouseCoopers, DMP apart from immunisation and wellness is going to be one of the important element which will create a 360 degree turn in healthcare" said Eapen. Dr RP IIangho, Vice-President (Medical),BreatheEazy Clinic, Apollo Hospitals Group said, "This new concept of disease managment will revolutionalise doctor-patient relationship and empower the patient enormously. We have taken the first step in transforming the way lung airway diseases -asthma and COPD - is treated in India. We will set an example for the world to follow, not India alone." Approximately, one in about every 12 asthmatic patients in the world is an Indian. 90 per cent of patients require better asthma education. 50 per cent of asthmatic hospitalisation and emergency visits can be prevented by patient education and awareness. Surprisingly, only two per cent of asthmatics have a peak flow meter, a key home diagnostic tool for any patient. "This important tool will be given free of cost to each enrolling patient," said Eapen. Through this joint venture, Apollo Hospitals and Lupin Pharmaceuticals, will open 40 BreatheEazy Clinic centers over a period of four years in not only metropolitan cities, but also tier II and tier III cities and towns too.

Disease Management Programme is set to change the face of medical care forever.

EH News Bureau