R ARIVANANTHAM
CHENNAI, APRIL 8
City-based tertiary care hospital, Gleneagles Global Health City (GGHC), has unveiled an Advanced Comprehensive Parkinson’s Disease Clinic (CPDC) here on Thursday.
The clinic was launched exclusively to treat Parkinson’s Disease by providing comprehensive care. This Centre will cater to treatment of Parkinson’s disease along with state-of- the-art facility for Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) surgery.
The CPDC has been unveiled by Sudha Meyyappan, founder of Parivarthan, an NGO.
The centre is equipped with high-end technology, Medtronic Stealth – 8 Neuronavigation equipment, that provides excellent targeting of the nucleus in the brain, for precise placement of the DBS electrodes in brain and to ensure an extremely safe procedure for the patient.
- A memorandum has been submitted to the state government to include DBS under the Chief Minister’s Comprehensive Health Insurance Scheme (CMCHIC).
With growing prevalence of Parkinson’s disease in Asia-Pacific region, including our country, an estimated 10 million people worldwide are living with Parkinson’s disease. In recent times, more than 1,60,000 patients have benefitted from DBS surgery with numbers increasing each year. An estimated 4% of people suffering from Parkinson’s disease are diagnosed before the age of 50. This centre aims to facilitate seamless treatment options for these patients that would aid in faster recovery from their symptoms. CPDC has more than 50 active Parkinson’s cases under follow up for the last two years and 10 patients have undergone DBS surgery in the last 2 years of the pandemic.
Addressing at the inaugural event, Dr Dinesh Nayak, Director of Neurology and Advanced Centre for Epilepsy, Gleneagles Global Health City, Chennai said, “We have a very comprehensive and coherent team treating patients suffering from Parkinson’s Disease. With new developments in technology, Deep Brain Stimulation surgeries have witnessed various advancements that provides ease in treatment. There was an unmet need for comprehensive care for the patients suffering from Parkinson’s disease and other movement disorders, CPDC will help to bridge this gap in Chennai and neighbouring region.”
Dr Nigel Peter Symss, Clinical Lead & Senior Consultant – Neurosurgery, Gleneagles Global Health City, Chennai said, “Most of the Parkinson’s disease problems do not need surgery but the patients with severe motor fluctuations, not responding to others measures require surgical treatment. There is an undue fear in the minds of most people when faced with the prospect of Deep brain stimulation (DBS) surgery. Advanced technology, minimally invasive techniques, specialized surgical training and years of experience have made DBS surgeries very safe today. Deep brain stimulation surgery is rapidly becoming the gold standard for the treatment of Parkinson’s disease with motor fluctuations and medication related side effects.”
Commenting CPDC, Dr Venkatraman Karthikeayan, Consultant Neurologist, Gleneagles Global Health City, Chennai said, “Parkinson’s Disease is a neurodegenerative condition which causes the lack of dopamine in brain cells. Person suffering from Parkinson’s disease needs proper care and medication adjustment under Movement Disorders Specialist. With advancing disease, the medications become less effective and there are ON-OFF periods, reducing the quality of life of the patients. In such well selected cases, Deep Brain Stimulation surgery can help to a great extent in improving the ON-time and reducing medication related side effects like dyskinesia.”
Dr. Alok Khullar, CEO, Gleneagles Global Health City, Chennai said, “The launch of an exclusive advanced centre for Parkinson’s disease with cutting-edge technologies, expert doctors and highly-trained technicians, paves way for best-in-class treatment for Parkinson’s disease related issues. A minimally invasive Deep Brain Stimulation surgery that provides relief and very less post-surgical care, comes as a boon to patients who are suffering from Parkinson’s disease.”
In reply to queries, the doctors said that the DBS surgery to implant chargeable as well as non chargeable motor to stimulate a particular electrode fixed in the brain would cost anywhere between Rs. 11 and Rs 11.5 lakhs. A memorandum has been submitted to the state government to include DBS under the Chief Minister’s Comprehensive Health Insurance Scheme (CMCHIC).
A number of patients who had undergone DBS with the Gleneagles Global Health City are leading a normal life were present at the CPDC launch. Baskar Reddy, Head, Corporate Communication was also present on this occasion.
