NE HEALTH BUREAU
CHENNAI, NOV 20
Apollo Hospitals Greams Lane has on Thursday launched Tamil Nadu’s first Centre of Excellence for Parkinson’s Disease and Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS), marking a major advancement in the state’s neurology and neurosurgical care ecosystem. Built on rigorous clinical protocols, precision-led neurosurgery, and a fully integrated movement-disorders pathway, the centre is delivering some of India’s strongest outcomes for patients from across the country and South Asia.
- State’s most advanced movement disorders program brings global-standard neurology and neurosurgery under one roof
- Highest volume DBS centre in Tamil Nadu; pioneers India’s first BrainSense™ real-time neural-sensing DBS surgery
- “DBS is a continuum of care — our aim is to return movement, confidence and life,” say Apollo experts
Over the last four years, the Apollo Advanced Movement Disorders & DBS Centre has performed the highest number of DBS procedures in Tamil Nadu, placing it among South India’s leading programs. The team is extensively trained in next-generation brain-sensing DBS platforms, enabling personalised stimulation models that improve mobility, stability and overall quality of life.
The centre is jointly helmed by Dr. Vijayashankar Paramanandam, Senior Consultant Neurologist & Movement Disorders Specialist, and Dr. Arvind Sukumaran, Senior Consultant Functional Neurosurgeon. Both have undergone advanced international training, bringing global techniques and stringent clinical standards into Apollo’s structured DBS program.
Speaking at the launch, Dr. Ilankumaran Kaliamoorthy, CEO – Apollo Hospitals Chennai Region, said: “At Apollo Hospitals, our mission is to bring the most advanced healthcare to every individual who seeks our care. The progress made by the Apollo Advanced Movement Disorders & DBS Centre reflect our commitment to clinical excellence, precision, and compassion. With internationally trained expertise and cutting-edge brain-sensing technologies, our team is transforming the lives of patients living with Parkinson’s disease. We are proud to emerge as one of the leading centre for DBS in Tamil Nadu, offering renewed hope, restored independence, and a better quality of life for patients and their families.”
Emphasising that DBS is a long-term, highly personalised therapy, Dr. Vijayashankar Paramanandam said: “There are no shortcuts in DBS surgery. The clinical decision-making begins months before the procedure. Our goal is to align clinical judgment with technology, so that each patient receives the most appropriate and thoughtful therapy possible. DBS is far more than a surgical procedure; it is a continuum of care. Its success depends not only on precise implantation, but on expert, individualised programming tailored to each patient’s symptom profile, translating stimulation into meaningful and sustained improvement. Our aim is to give patients back their movement, their confidence, and ultimately, their life.”
Highlighting the precision required in DBS implantation, Dr. Arvind Sukumaran stated:
“DBS placement is never target practice of just about ‘hitting the nucleus’. It involves understanding each patient’s functional anatomy, the link between every contact and clinical effect, and refusing to compromise on any aspect of technique or safety. Training across high-volume international centres gives us the bandwidth to integrate the latest technology where it truly matters, while keeping the fundamentals uncompromised. The principle is simple: get it right, every time, with safety at the core.”
Apollo Hospitals Greams Lane has also achieved a significant national milestone by performing India’s first Medtronic BrainSense™ DBS surgery, featuring real-time neural sensing and adaptive stimulation—enhancing precision, long-term stability and personalised treatment outcomes.
The centre’s comprehensive DBS pathway includes advanced neuroimaging, electrophysiological mapping, customised surgical planning, protocol-driven implantation, and sustained follow-up with expert programming. Every step adheres to globally benchmarked standards of precision and patient safety.
For individuals with advanced Parkinson’s disease, DBS offers renewed movement, independence and dignity. With its multidisciplinary expertise and patient-first model, Apollo Hospitals Greams Lane continues to strengthen India’s leadership in advanced DBS therapy, delivering hope and long-term quality-of-life improvements to patients across the region.
