Yashoda Hospital, Hyderabad, is planning to set up a Stem Cell Research Centre at the hospital in collaboration with the Centre for Cells and Molecular Biology (CCMB). The Hospital, which is proposing to involve in Biotechnology projects, has already initiated a project for undertaking stem cells research for rejuvenating damaged hearts.

Confirming the move to set up the stem cells research facility in collaboration with CCMB, Dr Surenda Rao, executive director, Yashoda Hospital, said that at the time of heart attack, some heart cells die and some get damaged. That portion of the heart would become a dead tissue and so the need to replace these with new ones. Unlike other organs in the body, the heart does not grow new cells to replace dead and worn-out ones. The heart can be rejuvenated by cells taken from the patient''s own thighs. CCMB can help in growing and monitoring the patient''s cells. LV Prasad Eye Institute, in association with CCMB, had made a breakthrough in stem cells research that would give sight to the blind.

According to Dr Rao, the stem cells research project for rejuvenating damaged hearts has already been commenced by Dr Kumar Ravi, a cardiac consultant at the Hospital. Dr Ravi is former scientific advisor to the US-based Bioheart.

Yashoda Super Speciality Hospital is one of the fastest growing corporate hospitals in Hyderabad at present. Started in the year 1995 at Malakpet with just 150 beds, Yashoda will be the largest hospital group in the Twin Cities with an overall beds capacity of 1,000 when its third hospital will be inaugurated in Secunderabad sometime in the middle of 2003. The hospital is also planning to start an ultra modern cancer unit soon.

Yashoda Malakpet has increased its bed capacity to 300, while its second hospital at Somajiguda has at present 150 beds. This is being expanded to 300 by the end of this year. Yashoda Secunderabad would be one of the most modern hospitals with a capacity of 400 beds. The new hospital would have a cancer and would be one of the best in terms of equipment and patient care. There would be provision for further expansion, Dr Rao said.

"What makes Yashoda stand out among the reputed corporate hospitals in Hyderabad is the prime location, modern technology and equipment, latest infrastructure, world class specialists and above all qualitative service at affordable cost are Yashoda''s strength and popularity," says Dr Rao.

When most of the corporate hospitals are beyond the common man''s reach and purse, Yashoda provides basic healthcare at affordable cost. When Pharmabiz visited the hospital at Somajiguda, there was a big rush of people who had come for medical check-up making use of the healthcare package offered by the hospital at an incredibly low cost of Rs 399. The package included most of the basic tests with free consultation.

"Though cost conscious, we do not compromise on quality. Definitely we have the best equipment and as the technology advances we install the latest machines," Dr Rao said.

The hospital does not charge for emergency services. Saving the life of a patient is more important, the hospital believes. "Though Yashoda''s rates are the lowest among the corporate hospitals, healthcare has become very costly these days. Therefore, we discharge the patients as early as possible to save on hospital charges. All these make Yashoda the common man''s corporate hospital," according to Dr Rao.

Because of a very good patient strength, the hospital employs full-time doctors and consultants who will not be allowed to practise elsewhere. For every discipline, there are four to five specialists, some of them with foreign degrees and experience.

A multi-disciplinary hospital, Yashoda takes care of all illnesses. However, among the more than 15 disciplines, the cardiology department comes on top of the list. A large team of cardiologists, cardiothoracic surgeons and highly qualified and experienced doctors perform even complicated coronary and peripheral angiogram, PTCA & stenting, bypass and open heart surgeries.

The hospital has the latest Cathlab from a renowned German company. The double-plane Cathlab is the first of its kind in Andhra Pradesh. The hospital also boasts of high-end diagnostic equipment such as CT, wide-open MRI, 2D Echo, 2D Dopplers, Ultrasound, Dialysis etc., both at Malakpet and Somajiguda.

The hospital has fully equipped ambulances called hospital on wheels. In serious cardiac cases, Yashoda sends a mobile hospital with machines to monitor the lungs and heart in order to keep the patient alive. This is what is called the golden hour after a stroke.

The hospital also conducts health awareness camps for the general public, as its social responsibility, and continuous medical education (CME) programmes, and health camps in public and private undertakings, industrywise, offering cheap packages. Yashoda deputes doctors, especially cardiologists, to hospitals in the peripheral areas. The hospital is also planning to introduce Telemedicine facilities in the districts.