| |NOVEMBER 20259NEW ADVANCED HEART FAILURE CLINIC LAUNCHED AT MEDICITYWHO AND BAYER EXTEND PACT TO TACKLE NEGLECTED DISEASESMedicity, one of India's premier super-speciality hospitals and Best Private Hospital in India, and it has unveiled its Advanced Surgical Heart Failure Clinic a state-of-the-art centre focused on the diagnosis, surgical treatment, and holistic rehabilitation of patients with complex heart failure and end-stage cardiac conditions.This pioneering clinic represents a significant advancement in India's cardiac care ecosystem, uniting a multidisciplinary team of cardiac surgeons, heart failure specialists, interventional cardiologists, and rehabilitation experts to provide integrated, evidence-based, and precision-focused care.The facility is equipped with cutting-edge diagnostics and treatments, including CPET, right heart catheterisation, genetic and biopsy testing, as well as comprehensive pre- and post-transplant rehabilitation. Beyond standard medications, the clinic offers advanced surgical interventions, mechanical circulatory support devices, and structured transplant preparation programs.Emphasizing early detection and timely intervention, the clinic optimizes patient outcomes through strategies such as LVAD or transplant planning, including bridge-to-transplant or destination therapy options. Patients and their families also receive extensive support encompassing counselling, lifestyle guidance, financial planning, and long-term care management."Advanced stage heart failure disease continues to be a health crisis in India, with a one-year mortality rate reaching up to 23.7 percent for some major causes. Analysis of 10,845 heart failure patients showed that diseases leading to end-stage heart disease, such as ischemic heart disease, contribute to a 21.1 percent one-year mortality, while dilated cardiomyopathy contributes to a 23.7 percent one-year mortality, and rheumatic heart disease is the third leading cause.In light of these significant mortality figures and the diverse origins of heart failure, advanced surgical heart failure therapies provide crucial life-saving options for patients with severe cardiac dysfunction, significantly improving survival rates and restoring quality of life through precision-driven care.Our clinic will specifically address these critical needs by focusing on Mechanical Circulatory Support (LVAD, RVAD, BiVAD, ECMO), Heart and Lung Transplantation, and High-Risk and Re-do Cardiac Surgeries, ensuring the best possible outcomes for patients facing these challenging conditions", said Dr. Anil Bhan, chairman, cardiac surgery, heart transplant, cardiac care, Medanta, Gurugram. POThe World Health Organization (WHO) and Bayer AG have renewed their two-decade collaboration to combat neglected tropical diseases (NTDs), extending the partnership through 2025­2030.The deal includes the donation of 18 million tablets and vials--worth an estimated $15.5 million--and $9.45 million in financial support to strengthen WHO's global, regional, and country-level programmes.Under the new agreement, Bayer will continue donating suramin and nifurtimox for human African trypanosomiasis and Chagas disease, along with niclosamide for taeniasis. The initiative aligns with WHO's NTD road map 2021­2030, aiming to accelerate progress toward elimination targets and reinforce public­private health partnerships."For over two decades, the partnership between WHO and Bayer AG has effectively supported global initiatives to combat neglected tropical diseases. Driven by its mission of "Health for All, Hunger for None," Bayer is reaffirming its commitment to addressing the urgent needs of millions of affected patients through the manufacturing and donation of essential medicines," said Claus Runge, chief health equity officer and global head of public affairs, sustainability & internal engagement at Bayer Pharmaceuticals.He added: "Bayer remains dedicated to ensuring sustainable actions aimed at eliminating sleeping sickness and controlling Chagas disease and taeniasis."WHO's Dr. Jeremy Farrar praised the partnership as a model of trust and collaboration that has significantly reduced disease burden. Between 2020 and 2025, 10 African countries were validated by WHO for eliminating sleeping sickness as a public health problem, with cases dropping sharply to fewer than 600 in 2024.Bayer's continued support will focus on high-burden countries like the Democratic Republic of the Congo, advancing surveillance, awareness, and early diagnosis. Since 2020, the company has also driven access to paediatric nifurtimox, improving treatment for children with Chagas disease.With NTDs still affecting millions in low-income regions, this renewed WHO­Bayer partnership marks a crucial step toward sustainable disease control, aiming for stronger local ownership, better data systems, and lasting health impact across endemic communities. PO21.1 percent
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