Chennai: Medfort Hospitals launched its flagship ‘Medfort Hospitals for Diabetes and Endocrine Care’ in Chennai today. It was inaugurated by Thiru G.K Vasan, Honourable Union Minister for Shipping, Government of India. Being billed as India’s first comprehensive facility focused on diabetes and endocrine care, the hospital will offer disease management solutions ranging from diagnostic tools for predicting pre – diabetes to facilities for the management of diabetes related complications. Diabetes is one of the major lifestyle diseases that call for right interventions at the right time. Diabetes is on the rise in India and will be a major epidemic if we don’t intervene urgently. While modern sedentary lifestyles and a lack of awareness share a major portion of the blame, gaps in healthcare delivery serve to complicate the picture overall.

Understanding the need to fill these gaps, Medfort Hospitals has launched this comprehensive healthcare facility, focusing on diabetes, endocrine and vision disorders. It goes well beyond the conventional treatment approach that limits itself to damage control and disability limitation. The idea is to promote wellness by adopting an innovative Prevention, early diagnosis and Proactive Management approach. This new holistic healthcare approach focuses on 5 Ps concept featuring Prevent, Predict, Protect, Preserve, and Partner.

“The approach involves empowering patients through a thorough understanding of diabetes and endocrine disorders and of the relevant management modalities. The idea is also to emphasize on prevention and to provide patients appropriate tools for prevention. We, at Medfort Hospitals, are fully committed to improving lives of people affected by diabetes and other endocrine disorders”, said Dr. G.S.K Velu, Chairman of Medfort Hospitals. Dr. GSK Velu is also the founder and managing director of Trivitron Group -Largest medical technology company of India origin and co-founder & Vice-chairman of Metropolis Health Services Limited , one of the largest clinical laboratories chain in asia.

“The prevalence of diabetes has risen dramatically all across India both in urban and rural areas. The International Diabetes Federation, projects that India will have over 80 million people with diabetes. The real numbers are likely to be much higher. Cardiovascular, vision and kidney related complications can be significantly reduced or delayed if diabetes is diagnosed early and managed effectively. The Medfort model will focus on education, empowerment and engaging with patients to provide the best standards of care. Endocrine care includes a wide array of conditions like thyroid disorders, growth and puberty, obesity, male and female reproduction, bone health, problems relating to the Pituitary and Adrenal gland and Lipid disorders.

Medfort aims to focus on providing comprehensive and cutting edge medical care in these areas under one roof.” said Dr. Usha Sriram, Medical Director, Medfort Hospitals. Medfort Hospitals delivers innovative outpatient care and brings the best expertise in ambulatory care under one roof.

“Recognising the need to educate people and to help them manage diabetes and its complications better we are providing world class personalized one stop healthcare facilities. They can access all kinds of information and facilities associated with diabetes under one roof. We already have eye care chain in the National Capital Region with seven eye hospitals operational as on date. We plan to start around 20 diabetes centres across the country by the end of 2012. The flagship hospital, set up in Chennai, delivers comprehensive and specialized care for diabetes and eye disorders.” said Mr. Gaurav Malhotra, CEO, Medfort Hospitals.

The newly launched hospital in Chennai has state-of-the-art infrastructure and a talent pool of over 20 doctors on board specialized in diabetes and endocrinology. The facility has dedicated dieticians, specialist nurses and assistants specially trained as diabetes health educators. The entire gamut of specialized services available under one roof includes in-house clinical laboratory, comprehensive basic radiology facilities including DEXA (Bone densitometer) & ultrasound, cardiac diagnostic facilities. The centre also has facilities for prevention and prediction of pre-diabetes, diabetes education, outpatient care procedure, eye care and foot care. Other services include cardiology, nephrology and neurology consultation, physiotherapy, sleep laboratory, women’s endocrine treatments .Some of the unique and more lifestyle- related offerings at Medfort are diabetes-friendly cafe with a demo kitchen, lifestyle & diabetes management counselling, pharmacy, a unique store with diabetes-friendly products, opticals and a lot more .Apart from the centre of excellence established at Chaimers road , Chennai will also have 10 spokes focussed on basic outpatient diabetes care. Medfort takes great pleasure and pride in welcoming the faculty from the Mayo Clinic to Chennai for participating in ENDIA 2011. This conference is a two day event for update on endocrinology and diabetes which will go a long way in dissemination of up-to-date scientific information.