Ceylinco Healthcare & Apollo introduce Proton therapy & Digital PET scans to Sri Lanka
Ceylinco Healthcare Services Limited (CHSL) together with Apollo Hospitals, Chennai, recently conducted an event at which Sri Lankan Oncologists and Cancer Specialists were introduced to the benefits of Proton Therapy Treatment and the advantages of Digital Positron Emission Tomography (Digital PET) scans.
This event follows CHSL’s appointment as a Medical Affiliate of Apollo Hospitals Enterprise Limited (AHEL) of India, which operates the Apollo Proton Cancer Centre (APCC) in Chennai. The appointment made Proton Therapy as well as Digital PET scans more accessible and affordable to cancer patients in Sri Lanka.
Since October last year, specialists at CHSL have been able to refer patients requiring this treatment or Digital PET scans to the Cancer Centre in Chennai which is the first medical facility in South Asia to have these cutting-edge options for treatment and diagnosis.
The event at the Hilton, Colombo, was conducted by Dr Sapna Nangia, Senior Consultant Radiation Oncologist at the APCC, and Mr John Chandy, Chief Operating Officer of APCC. While the former expounded on the functions and benefits of Proton Therapy, the latter spoke about the advantages of the Digital PET-CT scan compared to other CT scans available in Sri Lanka.
About 30 Sri Lankan specialists in the field attended the event, which was followed by cocktails and dinner.
Proton Therapy is considered the most advanced form of radiation treatment available in the world, thanks to its superior dose distribution and minimal side effects. It is increasingly being used to treat cancers, particularly those where treatment options are limited, or conventional radiation therapy presents risks to patients, as well as for many childhood cancers as it lessens the chance of harming healthy tissues.
Digital PET-CT scans at the APCC in Chennai are available to Sri Lankan patients at a lower cost than the standard analog PET scans available in Sri Lanka, even with air travel costs included. PET-CT is recommended to ascertain information regarding the stage of a cancer, so that appropriate management such as surgery or chemotherapy and radiation therapy can be advised. Owing to the digital aspect of these scans, patients are guaranteed higher sensitivity, better image quality and therefore increased accuracy in diagnosis.
The owner of the most experienced and affordable private cancer treatment centres in the country, Ceylinco Healthcare Services has successfully administered radiation therapy to over 7,000 patients in Sri Lanka over the past decade. The treatment facilities offered by the Company are estimated to generate a saving of US$ 500,000 in foreign exchange per year. The Company operates two radiation treatment units - the Ceylinco Radiation Treatment Centre and the Ceylinco TomoTherapy Centre, which is the only TomoTherapy unit in the country.
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Ceylinco Healthcare launches 3D Posture Scans with AI to identify posture-related problems
First in Sri Lanka to offer advanced scanning software from Sweden
Ceylinco Healthcare Services Limited (CHSL) has announced the introduction of a digital posture, balance and movement screening service to help identify and remedy common, but poorly managed, movement-related disorders, which affect one in every three people because of musculoskeletal, neurological or age-related problems.
The software developed by Swedish technology company Qinematic, uses accurate and fast 3D marker-less motion capture for human movement analysis. CHSL is first in Sri Lanka to offer the scans in order to provide an objective assessment of posture, movement patterns and balance of patients, and assist physiotherapists in making better decisions and optimal interventions for preventing and improving problems connected to poor static and dynamic posture.
Normally reserved for research and elite sports people, motion capture was once very expensive. With the more affordable Qinematic Posture Scan, CHSL has a unique opportunity to offer clients a scan and a report at an introductory price of Rs 5000 per person at the Ceylinco Healthcare Centre at Park Street, Colombo 2.
Qinematic Posture Scan works by recording human movement using a 3D camera and advanced computer software. The process is very simple. A client follows some simple onscreen instructions such as standing posture and balance, side bending, and small squats. The software can detect any difficulties and adjust to ‘Easy Mode’ to accommodate people with more serious issues. Advanced biomechanical models in the software are used to give immediate animated feedback and accurate measurements in a report.
To support the introduction of the Qinematic Posture Scan, CHSL recently conducted a workshop for 35 healthcare practitioners including Physiotherapists, Rheumatologists and gym instructors. The workshop was conducted by the CEO of Qinematic Mr Glenn Bilby, a Human Movement Scientist and Physiotherapist with expertise in the field for over 30 years. He instructed health workers from the CHSL network on how to interpret reports and operate the system, and elaborated on how biomechanics can be used for evidence-based health services, better decision making and measuring outcomes.
Commenting on the launch of the Qinematic Posture Scan, CHSL Director Mr Thushara Ranasinghe said: “This automated scan is quick, fun and motivating. Movement-related disorders can prevent many people from engaging in physical activities, and that can in turn contribute to metabolic and cardiovascular illness. The Qinematic Posture Scan can help many people overcome movement difficulties, exercise more and enjoy better health and an improved quality of life.”
The movements performed during the Posture Scan are carefully selected to capture the foundational building blocks of everyday activities at home, at work and in sports. The scan protocol is standardised to make the results comparable and the analysis reliable. Movements are ‘practiced’ along with the instructional video, after which the 3D recording takes place. The Posture Scan also collects some important metadata that can be linked to factors such as gender, age, discomfort, history of falling and handedness.
This scan is useful for assisting in diagnosis of movement, balance and posture-related conditions that include not only an aching back, neck, shoulders and feet; Harvard Health recently published an article that claimed that in some cases, incontinence, constipation, heartburn and slow digestion too can be associated with poor posture. Bad posture can also be associated with poor circulation, impaired lung function, constricted nerves, and issues of the spine.
Poor movement patterns are easily improved if the underlying problems are identified early, and usually respond well to corrective or preventative exercises. After a Qinematic Posture Scan at the Ceylinco Healthcare Centre, the outcome of the scan will be reported by a physiotherapist along with a recommended course of action.
Gym instructors, athletic and fitness coaches, physiotherapists, and rheumatologists who suspect dysfunction, pain or inactivity may be related to poor movement, balance and posture, can now direct clients to the Ceylinco Healthcare Centre for an objective Qinematic Posture Scan to assist with evidence based decisions and recommendations. The centre can also offer a physiotherapy consultation.
Qinematic makes software for 3D analysis of static and dynamic posture. The software turns affordable and off-the-shelf technology into an advanced movement lab, so that everyone can afford accurate and objective assessment of movement.
Ceylinco Healthcare Services owns and operates the Ceylinco Healthcare Centre and the Ceylinco Diabetes Centre at Park Street, Colombo 2, offering comprehensive screening, diagnostic services and medical care. It also has two radiation treatment units - the Ceylinco Radiation Treatment Centre and the Ceylinco TomoTherapy Centre, that have successfully administered radiation therapy to over 5,000 patients.
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Photo caption
Pictured here is Qinematic Chief Executive Officer Mr Glenn Bilby conducting the workshop.
Read moreCeylinco Healthcare to offer Proton Therapy in milestone collaboration with Apollo Proton Cancer Centre
Appointed Medical Affiliate of South East Asia's first and only Proton Cancer Centre
Proton Therapy, the most advanced form of radiation treatment available in the world, has become more accessible and affordable for cancer patients in Sri Lanka following the appointment of Ceylinco Healthcare Services Limited (CHSL) as a Medical Affiliate of Apollo Hospitals Enterprise Limited (AHEL) of India, which operates the Apollo Proton Cancer Centre in Chennai, the first and only Proton Therapy facility in the South East Asian region.
Announcing the milestone and the enrolment of CHSL in the Apollo Proton Partners Network Initiative, the Company said patients undergoing treatment at CHSL's two radiation treatment centres in Colombo can now be referred to the Apollo Proton Cancer Centre in Chennai if proton therapy is recommended, and undergo treatment at a preferred partner programme specified under the agreement between the two institutions.
Over the last decade, Proton Therapy has gained tremendous momentum globally due to its superior dose distribution and minimal side effects. It is increasingly being used to treat cancers, particularly those where treatment options are limited, or conventional radiation therapy presents risks to patients, as well as for many childhood cancers, due to these unique advantages.
As it lessens the chance of harming healthy, growing tissue, children may receive Proton Therapy for cancers of the brain and spinal cord. The current technology and expertise available worldwide and at Apollo Proton Cancer Centre, is now helping to expand the scope of indications from traditionally well-recognised cancers such as cancers of childhood and skull-base tumours and re-treatments, to increasingly accepted areas such as cancers of the head and neck, liver/GI, sarcomas, left-sided breast and prostate, with the aim of significantly improving survival rates and equally if not more importantly, the quality of life and long-term survivorship.
The Apollo Proton Cancer Centre in Chennai is the most advanced cancer care centre with pencil beam technology and the ability to deliver intensity modulated proton therapy (IMPT) image-guided and patient positioning systems, and is aided by the most sophisticated proton treatment planning systems. The centre also has excellent clinical, physics and therapy teams to plan and deliver the treatments appropriately.
"We already offer advanced radiation oncology in Sri Lanka via TomoTherapy and Linear Accelerator ensuring patients have the latest and most comprehensive treatment at the most affordable price," CHSL Chairman Mr R. Renganathan said. “We are not providing proton therapy currently or in the near future, and therefore decided to partner with APCC and provide access to patients who will need this form of treatment.”
"We are pleased to have entered into a clinical partnership with Ceylinco Healthcare as part of the access to proton therapy programme at Apollo Proto Cancer Centre. Patients that would benefit from Proton therapy will now be able to access the most advanced care cancer centre and thus strengthen their battle against cancer and improve their quality of life," Mr Dinesh Madhavan, President, Group Oncology and International at AHEL said.
A 'Proton Collaboration Agreement' entered into by Ceylinco Healthcare Services and Apollo Hospitals Enterprise in October 2019 paves the way for the two institutions to collaborate seamlessly in evaluating patient requirements, referrals to the Apollo Proton Cancer Centre for treatment and post treatment care.
The Apollo Proton Partners Network Initiative of which CHSL is now a member also has provision for Apollo specialists to work with physicians, consult and share resources to complement physician expertise at partner companies. Such companies can connect with Apollo through tele-consultation and interact with a patient-centric Cancer Management Team with organ-specific tumour boards and the Apollo Proton Advisory Board. Patients requiring Proton Therapy have access to comprehensive 360° cancer care management, Genomics Molecular Profiling, Digital Pathology, access to a vast pool of medical resources and centralised planning for radiation treatment, while medical staff of partner companies can engage in academic collaborations for multi-centric clinical research programmes.
The Apollo Proton Cancer Centre (APCC) in Chennai is a 150-bed integrated cancer hospital that offers state-of-the-art comprehensive cancer care. South East Asia's first Proton Therapy Centre, the APCC is powered by a cutting-edge multi-room Proton Centre, and is revolutionising radiation oncology not just in India, but across the region. Multi-room Proton Centres are at the very pinnacle of radiation oncology. Powerful cyclotrons, fully revolving gantries and state-of-the-art delivery modes ensure unprecedented precision and success rates that are redefining global benchmarks.
With over 26 years of experience in delivering world class cancer care and now with Proton Therapy, the hospital stands as a beacon of new hope for over 3.5 billion people in developing nations.
The owner of the most experienced and affordable private cancer treatment centres in the country, Ceylinco Healthcare Services has successfully administered radiation therapy to over 5,000 patients in Sri Lanka over the past decade. The treatment facilities offered by the Company are estimated to generate a saving of US$ 500,000 in foreign exchange per year. The Company operates two radiation treatment units - the Ceylinco Radiation Treatment Centre and the Ceylinco TomoTherapy Centre, which is the only TomoTherapy unit in the country.
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Photo caption:
Ceylinco Healthcare Services Limited (CHSL) Chairman Mr R. Renganathan (2nd from left) and Apollo Hospitals Chairman Dr. Prathap Reddy (centre) exchange the agreement in the presence of (from left) Prof. Rohan Jayasekera, Medical Director CHSL, CHSL Director Mr Thushara Ranasinghe and General Manager Mr Tharuka De Silva.
Read moreCeylinco Healthcare Centre’s Chief Medical Physicist receives training in Italy
The Chief Medical Physicist of Ceylinco Healthcare Services Limited (CHSL) recently completed overseas training in Milan, Italy, on the latest techniques in radiation therapy planning, becoming the third staffer of the Company’s Radiation Treatment Centre to undergo overseas training over the course of two months.
The training programme attended by Mr Samantha Gunawardena was hosted by Varian Medical Systems International AG, a global leader in Radiation Oncology, and was connected with CHSL’s recent acquisition of a new hi-precision Clinac® iX linear accelerator from the company.
The five-day programme titled ‘Varian Applied Physics: Advanced RapidArc Planning Course’ aimed to provide medical physicists with the training to approach and plan radiation treatment for complex cases with RapidArc technologies. It covered practical aspects and included extensive planning sessions with in-class training as well as practical sessions at the Humanitas Hospital in Milan, Italy.
Mr Samantha Gunawardena has been a Medical Physicist for 25 years contributing to both the public and private sector of Sri Lanka. He holds a B.Sc. in Physics from the University of Kelaniya and an MSc in Medical Physics from the Post Graduate Institute of Science of the University of Peradeniya.
The provider of the most experienced and affordable private cancer treatment in Sri Lanka’s private sector, CHSL operates two state-of-the-art radiation treatment centres, the Ceylinco Radiation Treatment Centre and the Ceylinco TomoTherapy Centre which have successfully administered radiation therapy to over 5,000 patients over the past decade. The two centres are estimated to generate a saving of US$ 500,000 in foreign exchange per year by providing treatment facilities that match those offered by regional and international centres. Ceylinco Healthcare Services also owns and operates the Ceylinco Diabetes Centre, offering comprehensive screening, diagnostic services and medical care.
Read moreCeylinco Healthcare Centre’s Chief Radiation Therapist undergoes training in Switzerland
Mr Thilak De Silva, the Chief Radiation Therapist at Ceylinco Healthcare Services Limited (CHSL) recently visited Switzerland for a training programme hosted by Varian Medical Systems International AG, a global leader in Radiation Oncology.
He is the second member of the staff of CHSL’s Radiation Treatment Centre to undergo training in Switzerland in the past two months, the Company said.
The five-day training course is linked to the acquisition of a new hi-precision Clinac iX linear accelerator for CHSL’s Radiation Treatment Centre from Varian Medical Systems.
The course titled ‘Oncology Information System Clinical Implementation’ covered a variety of topics ranging from an in-depth introduction to the system architecture to using the equipment in coordination with ARIA, a comprehensive information and image management solutions operating system that allows users to oversee all aspects of Oncology.
This programme was conducted with the aim of introducing the new Oncology Information System and to provide training on how to setup the system prior to on-site training.
Mr Thilak De Silva has been practicing in the field of Radiation Therapy for 28 years in both the private and public sector of Sri Lanka. He holds a Diploma in Radiography from the School of Radiography in Colombo, and specialised in Radiation Therapy, locally. He possesses extensive international experience too, having worked at the International Atomic Energy Authority (IAEA) in India, USA and Singapore.
With more than 7,400 linear accelerators installed around the world, of which nearly 200 are operating in India, Varian Medical Systems has extensive global and regional experience in radiation oncology. The Varian Clinac iX linear accelerator houses a range of capabilities that not only streamline the treatment process, but also expand possibilities for clinics.
The most experienced and affordable private cancer treatment centre in the country, CHSL has successfully administered radiation therapy to over 5,000 patients over the past decade. The treatment facilities offered by the Company are estimated to generate a saving of US$ 500,000 in foreign exchange per year from its two radiation treatment centres — the Ceylinco Radiation Treatment Centre and the Ceylinco TomoTherapy Centre. Ceylinco Healthcare Services also owns and operates the Ceylinco Diabetes Centre, offering comprehensive screening, diagnostic services and medical care.
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