Apollo Hospitals inks MoU with Canadian firm

To collaborate on chronic diseases like diabetes, cancer

Hyderabad: Apollo Hospitals on Monday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Canada’s William Osler Health System (Osler) to collaborate and undertake research in a range of diseases like diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and cancer.

The agreement was signed in Delhi recently by Dr Anupam Sibal, Senior Consultant and Group Medical Director of Apollo Hospitals and Dr Naveed Mohammad, VP Medical Affairs, William Osler Health System and Lead Physician of Osler’s Global Health Programme, bringing together two leading health care organisations in efforts to improve health outcomes across the world.

The partnership focuses on two unique areas including research and continuity of patient care. Through the research collaboration, scientists at the two organizations will begin by identifying areas of cooperation, collaboration and innovation, particularly around the range of diseases like diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and cancer, which are highly prevalent among the population in regions served by both Osler and Apollo.

A recent assessment report by the WHO shows that the diabetic population in India is rising constantly and is projected to reach 101.2 million in the next 15 years. “Every year, nearly 36 million lives are lost to lifestyle diseases and more than 60 per cent of the population in India bears the brunt of chronic diseases.

It is estimated that the incidence of chronic disease will cost India $6.2 trillion by the year 2030”, said Rahul Reddy, SVP- Strategic Relationships & New Initiatives, Apollo Hospitals Group. The two organisations will also initiate a pilot project to enhance the continuity of care for patients with complex needs traveling between India and the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) in Canada for extended periods of time.