BENGALURU: Taking a major initiative towards expert liver care, Aster Whitefield Hospital has declared the launch of the first dedicated Liver Intensive Care Unit (ICU) in Karnataka. This is a state-of-the-art facility designed only for liver failure patients, those having biliary problems, and liver transplant cases. The ICU, named SHIELD (Specialized Hepatic Intensive & Emergency Liver Division), is a state-of-the-art facility designed solely for patients with liver failure, biliary problems, and liver transplant cases. Setting the Liver-specific ICU as a real rescue for patients in critical condition, it is a confluence of renowned doctors, modern facilities, and continuous patient monitoring to provide highly specialised, multi-disciplinary care aimed at improving patient outcomes. Through this, Aster has once again shown its desire to promote islands of excellence aimed at quaternary single-organ care pathways for better results for patients with complicated liver diseases. The programme was honoured by the presence of Dr. C. N. Manjunath, Hon’ble Member of Parliament (Lok Sabha), as the Chief Guest.

Speaking ahead of the inauguration, Dr. C. N. Manjunath said, “Liver problems are turning out to be a sneaky but major health issue in India, and usually, it’s at a very severe stage when the patients are found. A liver ICU dedicated to liver care opening at Aster Whitefield Hospital is a very appropriate and great step that will enable our healthcare system to be more efficient and quicker in handling very difficult liver cases. Apart from better survival chances, specialized facilities equip the patient care to be comprehensive and in collaboration with various medical disciplines.”

Adding to this, Dr. H R S Girn, Senior Consultant – HPB and Liver Transplant surgeon, Aster Whitefield Hospital, said: “The establishment of a specialty Liver ICU represents an innovative approach in the establishment of a single point care facility for liver sick patients requiring what we call the Liver Arc services (Hepatology, ICU, Surgery, Transplantation, Luminal and radiological interventions) under one roof. A person with decompensated cirrhosis or liver failure experiences rapid changes within a short period of time. Thus, in this case, having a speciality dedicated ICU implies that all actions can be taken efficiently and effectively for the patients and their families. In turn, this provides a seamless referral and healthcare delivery pathway aimed at holistic liver care, liver-specific training for budding future specialists, and brings liver care at par with other resource-intensive single-organ dedicated ICUs like the Cardiac or Neuro ICUs, which have traditionally been the norm.  With busy lives, nuclear families, and increasing liver disease burden in the country, single organ-specific facilities under trusted brands like Aster are the need of the hour as a single point of contact resource for the patients suffering from life-threatening conditions.”

Srikant Subudhi, Chief Operating Officer, Aster Whitefield Hospital, added: “At Aster Whitefield Hospital, the core of our efforts is the creation of highly sophisticated, patient-oriented healthcare ecosystems that can effectively meet the various clinical needs of today and tomorrow. The launching of Karnataka’s first dedicated Liver ICU is a powerful indication of how we are always ready to put our money into the specialised infrastructure which is capable of dealing with the increasing complexity of liver-related diseases. Not only does this facility leverage state-of-the-art technology and a wide range of medical experts, but it also ensures continuous monitoring for better clinical results and provides easier access to specialised and high-quality treatment.“

The Liver ICU will be a collaborative endeavor by a team of highly skilled and proficient physicians, including liver transplantation surgeons, hepatologists, and gastroenterologists, as well as critical care specialists. This dedicated unit will try to fill a major void in the liver care infrastructure of Karnataka, and it will be a one-stop solution for patients to get timely, cutting-edge, and life-saving treatment.

The post Aster Whitefield Hospital Unveils Karnataka’s First Dedicated Liver ICU appeared first on NRI News.

Just as a leap year occurs once every four years, rare diseases (Ex: Hemophilia, Lupus, Marfan syndrome etc.) affect only a small fraction of the population. Yet, their effect is immense. Acknowledging the plight of patients, Rare Disease Day is celebrated on the last day of February every year to spread awareness and push for improved care and treatment.

Over 300 million (Source) individuals worldwide suffer from rare diseases, more than 7,000 (Source) types of which exist, and the majority are poorly characterized and don’t have cost-effective and quality treatment options available. An estimated 70 million Indians have rare diseases, though low awareness levels, expensive diagnosis, and lack of healthcare facilities are serious drawbacks. The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) National Registry for Rare and other Inherited disorders (NRROID) was initiated in November 2019 in collaboration with AIIMS, New Delhi, to collect useful data on demography, phenotype, natural history, evolution, and outcomes of specific diseases with/ without treatment. As of the latest update, the registry has recorded 16,034 cases, with specific disorders such as Thalassemia (4,022 cases) and Neuromuscular Disorders (6,458 cases) being notably prevalent (Source). The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has recognized 4,001 rare diseases, but a mere 450 (Source) have been formally documented in tertiary care hospitals, and that points towards a significant deficit in diagnosis and data collection. Though 80% of the rare diseases are genetic in origin, the remaining ones are caused by infections, autoimmune conditions, or environmental factors. Since more than 50% of rare disease conditions occur in children, early diagnosis is important.

Rare diseases require specialized treatments, lifelong management, and in some cases, even experimental treatments—hence, appropriate insurance coverage. 72% of rare diseases have a genetic aetiology, but others are due to infections, allergies, or environmental causes. While most rare diseases are not curable, early detection and proper management can greatly improve the quality of the patient’s life.

With 50% of rare diseases occurring in children, early treatment is essential. Patients often experience significant delays in diagnosis. At times, patients wait for years for a proper medical examination. Rare Disease Day serves as a reminder to promote research, improve healthcare access, and support individuals battling these conditions.

What is Regular Health Insurance?

Comprehensive health insurance is meant to cover hospitalization charges, doctor consultations, diagnostic procedures, and pre and post-hospitalization expenses. The policies are reimbursement or cashless, with the insurance company settling the bill with the hospital to the extent of the sum insured.

For patients with neurological rare diseases such as Huntington’s disease or Rett syndrome, comprehensive health insurance can cover hospitalization and supportive care. For metabolic disorder patients like Gaucher disease or Fabry disease, enzyme replacement therapy and long-term care can be covered. But not all treatments—particularly for rare diseases—are covered under normal policies, and out-of-pocket costs are high.

What is a Critical Illness Plan?

A critical illness (CI) plan varies in structure from typical health insurance. Instead of paying for the cost of hospitalization, it disburses a lump sum at the time of a covered disease’s diagnosis. The sum can be used as per the desire of the policyholder—to settle medical expenses, loss of earnings, or even alternate therapy.

For individuals with autoimmune and inflammatory rare diseases like Lupus or Scleroderma, a CI plan may offer financial relief. But CI plans generally pay for a predetermined category of disease, excluding a majority of rare diseases. If a rare disease is excluded from coverage, the policyholder does not receive financial relief, which makes CI plans less reliable for those with uncommon diagnoses.

Differences in coverage: Which Works Better with Rare Diseases?

For rare diseases, basic health insurance pays for hospitalization and immediate medical costs. It pays for doctor visits, intensive care unit admission, and necessary procedures. It does not pay for indirect costs like loss of income, home modification, or long-term nursing care.

A critical illness policy, on the other hand, pays a lump sum that can be spent as one desires, but this coverage is only available if the disease is included in the policy. Since most CI policies do not pay for most rare diseases, they cannot be the only source of financial protection. For individuals with rare conditions, a combination of high-coverage basic health insurance and a critical illness policy can provide a better financial safety net.

Financial Plan for Uncommon Diseases

For high-risk individuals with rare diseases, the best approach is to have both types of insurance for overall security. A high-coverage normal health insurance policy can cover hospital and medical costs, while a critical illness policy (if available) can provide financial support for non-medical costs.

Additionally, one should consider top-up plans, disease-specific policies, and personal savings to fill coverage gaps. Since rare diseases are chronic, choosing an insurance that covers advanced therapies, gene therapy, and specialty drugs.

The post Critical Illness Plans vs. Regular Health Insurance appeared first on NRI News.

The inauguration of the new ICU was made possible through the generous philanthropy of Maharookh and Farrokh N Cooper of Cooper Corporation. The Coopers, esteemed philanthropists, have consistently demonstrated their commitment to healthcare advancement at Ruby Hall Clinic, contributing significantly to various initiatives, from donating ambulances to upgrading the NTU to supporting pediatric cardiac surgeries in underserved populations. In the last four years alone close to 100 children have undergone life-changing cardiac surgeries.

Farrokh N. Cooper, Chairman and Managing Director, Cooper Corporation Pvt. Ltd said, “I am honored to contribute towards the enhancement of Critical Care Services at Ruby Hall Clinic, Pune. In times of need, it is crucial to strengthen our healthcare infrastructure. My heartfelt appreciation to Ruby Hall Clinic for their unwavering commitment to providing exceptional healthcare. Together, let us strive for a healthier and more resilient community.”

Dr. P.K. Grant, Chairman and Managing Trustee, of Ruby Hall Clinic said, “Ruby Hall Clinic is thankful to have individuals like the Coopers, whose unwavering commitment to philanthropy has left an indelible mark on our institution. Through their diverse and generous contributions, ranging from essential medical equipment to vital support for vulnerable populations, they have transformed the way we deliver care.”

The post Ruby Hall Clinic Expands Critical Care Services With New ICU appeared first on NRI News.