Apollo Hospitals and AliveCor Inc. have entered into an exclusive collaboration agreement to tackle the growing problem of heart arrhythmias, by providing an innovative mobile device to improve access to cardiac screening tools for patients across India. Through an exclusive agreement in India and of South Asia, Apollo Hospitals will introduce the smartphone enabled, medical grade, FDA-cleared AliveCor Heart Monitoras part of its arrhythmia screening and stroke prevention programme providing patients access to this device. The AliveCor Heart Monitor is compatible with iOS and Android mobile devices to wirelessly record, display, store and transfer heart rate and single-channel electrocardiogram (ECG), the electrical activity of the heart.

“We are excited to collaborate with Apollo Hospitals on their mission to improve consumer access to healthcare,” said Euan Thomson, president and chief executive officer at AliveCor.  “Together we can empower patients and their doctors throughout India with a simple, affordable mobile device to help change the way heart conditions are identified and managed.”

Millions of people worldwide are affected byarrhythmias, which undetected can lead to stroke and even death. One in four adults over age 40 is at risk of developing atrial fibrillation, the most common heart rhythm disturbance, making them five times more likely to have a stroke.  For the first time in India, Apollo Hospitals is making it possible for users of the AliveCor Heart Monitor to have instant access to their ECGs through their mobile devices, providing a more complete picture of their heart health.

“We recognise the pioneering work that has been done by AliveCor in the US and also, the great value that this technology can bring to patients as we work to address the problems of arrhythmias in India,” said Dr. Prathap CReddy, Chairman, Apollo Hospitals. “It’s extremely important for us to provide access to medical devices that are both clinically proven and cost-effective to help our patients manage their cardiac health. This agreement is another step in extending the reach of our Apollo health services to members of our community, our cardiac patients and caregivers.”

“With AliveCor, patients in India will now have access to a mobile, affordable andhigh-quality cardiac device that provides a more complete picture of their heart health. I hope we can broaden this service to reach every patient in India,” said Vinod Khosla, partner at Khosla Ventures. “With this unique collaboration with AliveCor, Apollo Hospitals is on the cutting edge of health innovation.”

The AliveCor Heart Monitor is intended to record, store and transfer single-channel electrocardiogram (ECG) rhythms. The AliveCor Heart Monitor also displays ECG rhythms and detects the presence of atrial fibrillation. The AliveCor Heart Monitor is intended for use by healthcare professionals, patients with known or suspected heart conditions and health conscious individuals. The AliveCor Heart Monitor is compatible with all iPhone models and most Android mobile devices.

In a rare honour, the Government of India issued a commemorative stamp in recognition of Apollo's contribution, the first for a healthcare organisation. Apollo Hospitals Chairman, Dr. Prathap C Reddy, was conferred with the prestigious Padma Vibhushan in 2010. For more than 28 years, the Apollo Hospitals Group has continuously excelled and maintained leadership in medical innovation, world-class clinical services and cutting-edge technology. Our hospitals are consistently ranked amongst the best hospitals globally for advanced medical services and research.