· Dr K R Balakrishnan led team treats children for various cardiac related ailments at Palestine Medical Complex, Ramallah
· Treatment done at a free Charitable Paediatric Cardiac Surgical Camp with support from Ministry of Health, Palestine
Chennai, 14th May 2018: In a first by a hospital outside of Western Europe and North America, a team of doctors from Fortis Malar Hospital in India travelled to Palestine on a surgical mission to treat children affected by various cardiac related ailments at Palestine Medical Complex in Ramallah recently. A total of 50 children with complicated cardiac problems were screened. The team of doctors went at the invitation of Palestine’s Ministry of Health and was led by Dr K R Balakrishnan, Director, Cardiac Sciences, Fortis Malar Hospital, Chennai.
Out of the total 50 Paediatric cases screened, eight children were diagnosed with complicated cardiac problems. Most of the children were infants, a few months old and were treated successfully. The team of doctors also performed a critical surgery on a two-year-old child who was diagnosed with Tetralogy of Fallot. Another was a one year-old child, suffering from VSD with Aortic regurgitation. Both these procedures were done for the first time in Palestine.
Speaking on the mission, Dr. K R Balakrishnan, Director – Cardiac Sciences, Fortis Centre for Heart Failure & Transplant, said, “It has been a very rewarding experience to treat sick children and help them recover in the best possible way. The love and warmth that the people of Palestine bestowed upon us is overwhelming. The mission was a truly gratifying experience as we were able to treat so many children affected by Congenital Heart Defects. We are thankful to the Government of Palestine and PCRF (Palestine Children Relief Fund) for providing us with this opportunity to come and treat children here.”
Dr K R Balakrishnan was accompanied by five other expert doctors for this mission including Dr Suresh Rao, Chief Cardiac Care Anesthetist, Dr Ganapathy Krishnan, Pediatric Cardiac Surgeon, Dr V K Swami, Pediatric Cardiologist, and Dr Ram Subramanian, Assistant Anesthetist, Fortis Malar Hospital. Along with the physicians, the team also consisted of Perfusionist Mr Raju, OT technician Mr Alwin and three cardiac care staff nurses – Ms Darthi Josephine, Mr Menial V and Mr Malayappan who provided the requisite clinical support.
Palestine’s Ministry of Heath along with senior officials from the country’s Government Hospitals thanked and praised Dr. K R Balakrishnan and his team for their inspiring work in Palestine and their valuable guidance as well as their visionary approach to improve the country’s healthcare system.
Dr. Suresh Rao K G, Head, Cardiac Anaesthesia and Critical Care, Fortis Malar Hospital, Chennai said “Many children that we screened were completely treated now. Since their defect was detected early on, it is possible for them to lead a completely normal life. We also trained the local surgeons to take care of these patients and to perform similar surgeries.”
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 its healthcare delivery services in India, Dubai, Mauritius and Sri Lanka with 45 healthcare facilities (including projects under development), approximately 10,000 potential beds and over 374 diagnostic centres.
About Fortis Malar Hospital:
Fortis Malar Hospital was acquired by Fortis Healthcare (India) Limited in early 2008. The hospital founded in 1992, is established as one of the largest corporate hospitals in Chennai providing quality super specialty and multi-specialty healthcare services. Fortis Malar Hospitals, with 180 beds, focuses on providing comprehensive medical care in the areas of Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery, Neuro Surgery, Gynaecology, Orthopaedics, Gastroenterology, Neurology, Paediatrics, Diabetics, Nephrology and Internal Medicine. Fortis Malar Hospital has a state of the art Cath Lab and multiple dedicated cardiac operation theatres and intensive coronary care units. Several rare and complex Adult and Paediatric Cardiac surgeries, Orthopaedic and Joint replacements, Neurosurgeries and Plastic reconstruction surgeries have been performed at this hospital. The hospital’ Obstetrics and Gynaecology services are among the busiest in the city, successfully performing many complicated deliveries and surgeries. They are supported by a dedicated Neonatology unit.
