Health Check on Wheels: Apollo Hospitals Launches Gujarat’s First Fully-equipped Mobile Testing Facility

Ahmedabad, March 10, 2023: In yet another significant step towards effectively dealing with a steady rise in non-communicable diseases (NCDs), Apollo Hospitals, Ahmedabad, on Friday launched ‘Health Check on Wheels’ in the city. As part of this novel initiative, Apollo Hospitals has unveiled a fully-equipped and state-of-the-art health testing bus with an aim to bring complete health check-ups to the doorsteps of common people.

 
The medical check-up and screening bus is equipped with the latest diagnostic test equipment such as X-Ray, Sonography, express TMT (Tread Mill Stress Test), ECG (electrocardiogram), PFT (Pulmonary function test), apart from a host of other blood investigation equipment and consultation facilities. Apollo Hospitals has become the first hospital chain in Gujarat to launch a complete health check-up van having onboard facilities such as X-Ray, Sonography, TMT, ECG, PFT equipment. In fact, the testing bus unveiled in Ahmedabad is also the first such testing facility designed and developed within the Apollo Hospitals Group.
 
Early diagnosis of NCDs such as heart disease, stroke, cancer, chronic respiratory diseases and diabetes are often hampered by individual negligence due to hectic work schedules and mismanaged lifestyles. Timely detection is critical in preventing and controlling NCDs that add an enormous burden on individuals as well as the existing healthcare system. Apollo Hospitals’ health check-up bus is an endeavour to diagnose chronic diseases at an early stage and also to detect warning signs well in advance to efficiently manage and control NCDs.  
 
Defined as diseases of long duration, NCDs are one of the major challenges in public health as they not only cause intense physical pain and suffering but also have a significant impact on the socioeconomic development of the individual and the country as a whole.
 
Dr Sathya Sriram, CEO, Preventive Health, Apollo Hospitals Group, said, "The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in greater awareness regarding preventive health checkups. People have understood the importance of regular health checkups to keep diseases and the subsequent complications at bay. However, despite the awareness, it is difficult for working professionals and their families to go for regular health checkups due to scarcity of time and other reasons. I think that the innovative step taken by Apollo Hospitals, Ahmedabad, in taking health checkups to the doorstep of people would go a long way in solving this problem and would make access to regular health checkups convenient for citizens."
 
“Rigorous efforts are being made to tackle the growing threat of NCDs. Being a pioneer in preventive health check-ups, Apollo Hospitals is committed to deepening the penetration of health screening by bringing a complete health check-up to the doorsteps of every Indian household. Early diagnosis plays a vital role in promptly preventing and controlling non-communicable diseases and our ‘Health Check on Wheels’ initiative is a concrete step in that direction,” said Mr Neeraj Lal, COO, Apollo Hospitals, Ahmedabad.
 
There is an urgent need to address and deal with the mammoth challenge of NCDs, which are taking a heavy social and economic toll on India. According to recent estimates, deaths due to NCDs in India jumped from 36% to 65% from 1990 to 2019 and the country will lose $4.58 trillion before 2030 as a result of NCDs and mental health conditions.

*This press release is published by VOH team.*