Venkateshwar Hospital, Delhi Successfully Performs Urology Procedure Using Medtronic Hugo Robotic-Assisted Surgery System

* Reconstructive surgery (Pyeloplasty) performed on 25-year-old patient

* First hospital in North India to install Medtronic Hugo™ Robotic-Assisted Surgery (RAS) system

Venkateshwar Hospital, Delhi’s leading multi-super speciality hospital, and India Medtronic Private Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of Medtronic plc (NYSE: MDT), today announced the first urological procedure performed using the Hugo™ robotic-assisted surgery (RAS) system in north India.

The landmark procedure was performed by an expert team led by Dr (Maj. Gen) D V Singh, Director & Head, Department of Urology & Renal Transplant at Venkateshwar Hospital. The 25-year-old patient had left side PUJ (Pelvic Ureteric Junction) obstruction and a hugely enlarged kidney with compromised renal function. He underwent robotic-assisted laparoscopic reconstructive surgery (pyeloplasty) with stent, leading to successful preservation of the compromised function of his left kidney and was discharged from the hospital after two days.

Venkateshwar has also performed the first cystoprostatectomy in Asia Pacific region with the HugoTM RAS system. In this procedure, the bladder and prostate glands along with surrounding lymph nodes were removed through a minimally invasive procedure and the patient was discharged from the hospital after four days.

Mr. Kamal Solanki, CEO, Venkateshwar Hospitals said, “The introduction of robotic assisted surgery reinforces our commitment to adopt cutting-edge technologies and deliver high-quality clinical services and uncompromised patient care. The new technology complements the expertise of our clinicians and help us enhance treatment offerings to cater to the growing need of our national and international patients.”

Talking about the first surgery, Dr. Y P Bhatia, Chairman Advisory Council, Venkateshwar Hospitals said, “These procedures mark an important step forward in bringing the benefits of robotic-assisted surgery to many more patients whose health conditions require surgical treatment in specialties such as Urology, Gynecology, and General Surgery. I believe we are now entering a new phase of providing greater access, flexibility, and care to our patients.”

Dr (Maj. Gen) D V Singh, Director & Head, Department of Urology & Renal Transplant, Venkateshwar Hospital said, “The Hugo™ RAS system from Medtronic is a state-of-the-art platform in the surgical armamentarium that will empower the specialties to undertake complex procedures through minimal access with enhanced flexibility and high precision. We at Venkateshwar Hospital feel privileged in offering high quality surgical solutions to our patients especially those suffering from challenging surgical conditions.”

“Every patient in India deserves access to quality care and the benefits of minimally invasive surgery. Robotic-assisted surgery is key to making that possible. Medtronic technologies like the Hugo™ RAS system are creating a bold new era in healthcare, and we are happy to partner with Venkateshwar Hospitals to help patients when they need it the most,” said Madan Krishnan, Vice President & Managing Director, Medtronic India.

The HugoTM RAS system is a modular, multi-quadrant platform designed for a broad range of soft-tissue procedures. It combines wristed instruments, 3D visualization, and Touch Surgery™ Enterprise, a cloud-based surgical video capture and management solution, with dedicated support teams specializing in robotics program optimization, service, and training. The Hugo™ RAS system and Touch Surgery™ Enterprise are designed to bring the benefits of minimally invasive surgery — fewer complications, smaller scars, shorter hospital stays, and a faster return to normal activities1–3,† — to more patient around the world. And, in doing so, help address global inequities in access to care.  

About Medtronic:

Bold thinking. Bolder actions. We are Medtronic. Medtronic plc, headquartered in Dublin, Ireland, is the leading global healthcare technology company that boldly attacks the most challenging health problems facing humanity by searching out and finding solutions. Our Mission — to alleviate pain, restore health, and extend life — unites a global team of 90,000+ passionate people across 150 countries. Our technologies and therapies treat 70 health conditions and include cardiac devices, surgical robotics, insulin pumps, surgical tools, patient monitoring systems, and more. Powered by our diverse knowledge, insatiable curiosity, and desire to help all those who need it, we deliver innovative technologies that transform the lives of two people every second, every hour, every day. Expect more from us as we empower insight-driven care, experiences that put people first, and better outcomes for all. In everything we do, we are engineering the extraordinary.

For more information on Medtronic (NYSE:MDT), visit www.Medtronic.com and follow @Medtronic on Twitter and LinkedIn. For more information, visit medtronic.com/hugo.

A Bengaluru Boy Dubai Is Shining With Gulf Achievers Award 2022

Karthik Vijayamani, a boy from Silicon City Bengaluru City, Karnataka, India, came to Dubai, UAE in the year 2014. Today, he has been decorated with the GULF ACHIEVERS AWARD 2022 FOR BEST SHORT FILMS CONTENT MAKER IN DUBAI for the short films “Dad Says”  “Dance Battle 2022 “&“Chords of Love”.

Karthik landed in Dubai hunting for a Job and has Received Best Manager award for the consecutive 5 Years from the Established Dubai bodies for his sincere efforts. This was purely because of sheer hard work and dedication.

Karthik opened a production house, Avighna Productions in 2014 and underwent numerous struggles to find a strong footing in the events and entertainment industry. Today, he has received major recognition in DUBAI. Under the banner of Avighna Productions, he has completed innumerable events like Talent shows, Awards Ceremonies to name a few.

Karthik has also produced the famous and fantastic Fan based IPL songs for Chennai Super Kings, RCB & Mumbai Indians, which has crossed over 3.8 million views on YouTube.

To add to his achievements, he has produced many short films that have impacted on society.

His social media handle has been receiving 50000 to 100, 000 views for his short films and is fast becoming one of the handles that people are looking at for great content to watch.

Another unique quality of Karthik is that he has believed in giving "People of Determination" equal opportunities to act in his short films, attend his events, and take part in talent competitions and so much more. Karthik has managed the protocol of numerous Sheikhs for their prestigious private events

Karthik, to date, remains the same, humble and a hard working lot, always looking to walk that extra mile. His time management skills are incredible & appreciated by each stakeholder.

List of Felicitations & Awards

A) Awarded & Felicitated H.H Sheikh Khalid bin Humaid bin Saqr Al Qasimi

B) Awarded &Felicitated H.H Sheikh Butti bin Suhail Al Maktoum

C) Awarded & Felicitated H.E Ali Al Mazmi

d) Awarded & Felicitated H.E Eng Sheikh Salem Bin Sultan Al Qasimi

e) Awarded & Felicitated H.H Hamid Bin Khalid Al Qasimi

f) Awarded & Felicitated H.E Dr. Bu Abdullah

g) Awarded & Felicitated Mona Tajarbi

h) Awarded & Felicitated H.E Yacob Al Ali

i) Awarded & Felicitated Samera Suliman Mohamed

62% Of Indian Businesses Have A Well-Defined Sustainability Plan: SAP And Oxford Economics Study

* Businesses in India believe it is possible to be sustainable and profitable at the same time.

A recent study by Oxford Economics and SAP (NYSE: SAP), has revealed Indian businesses today recognize the potential of sustainability to unlock business value, with 62% of companies noting it’s not difficult to be sustainable and profitable at the same time.

The study also revealed that although the significance of sustainability is well understood, much work remains to be done to ensure sustainability ambition translates into action. The study found that just 17% of respondents have calculated their total organizational carbon input. More importantly, out of the organizations that have acted upon a sustainability strategy, only 7% are receiving significant value from it.

“It’s a positive sign that Indian organizations believe it is viable to improve profits and protect the environment at the same time,” said Kulmeet Bawa, President & Managing Director, SAP Indian Subcontinent. “The use of technology can aid us strategically to assist companies realize real, genuine, and quantifiable business value. At SAP, we’re dedicated to enable businesses of all sizes and industries in achieving their sustainability goals,” he added.

Regulatory compliance is both key sustainability driver and a challenge

More than half of Indian respondents (60%) noted that regulatory mandates are the primary drivers of their sustainability strategies. This aligns with the fact that regulatory compliance (45%) is the major benefit derived ahead of reduced carbon emissions and increased operational visibility.

It’s clear that organisations may need to refocus their strategies to achieve greater value from sustainability. Too much focus on compliance was cited as the third highest challenge to sustainability success by Indian respondents.

Data is the major gap to going green

Access to accurate and insightful data throughout the business value chain is critical to maximizing sustainability outcomes. But just four in ten (44%) of respondents said they have invested in data analysis to measure sustainability in their business, and a similar amount (43%) said they were training staff how to capture sustainability data.

Organizations must move beyond driving transparency for legal compliance to expand sustainable practices throughout industrial business networks and value chains. To do this, they must use technology to gather data, optimise business processes, and make more sustainable business decisions.

The role of leadership is central in driving progress on sustainability

Senior leadership can play a pivotal role in engaging and driving their companies on a sustainable transformation by setting out clear cut path and goals. Yet only 22% of businesses have incentivised leaders based on sustainability strategy success and only half (52%) say their employees are active participants in their sustainability efforts.

Business leaders must walk the talk by clearly engaging with key audiences like employees, supply chain partners, and policymakers on how to leverage the transformative power of technology and data management to be a more intelligent, sustainable enterprise.

“Sustainability leaders go beyond vision to ensure that sustainability initiatives are acted upon,” said Edward Cone, editorial director, Oxford Economics. “They communicate with key constituencies both inside and outside the company, and they use integrated technologies to measure and track performance in a way that drives accountability.”

Vertigo, A Balance Disorder Caused By Inner Ear Problems, Affects 1 In 10 People Worldwide, With Women 2 To 3 Times More Likely

* Adherence to dietary & lifestyle changes and treatment aids vertigo management

Vertigo is a balance disorder typically caused by inner ear problems, resulting in a sudden, unpleasant sensation that makes an individual feel like the world is spinning. It disrupts the body’s vestibular system, which acts as an internal GPS and is responsible for maintaining balance. The dizziness can happen without warning, increasing the risk of falling and fractures. Vertigo is common, with 1 in 10 people across the world experiencing it in their lifetime.[i] In India, the estimated vertigo prevalence is 0.71%, which amounts to over 9 million people.[ii] It is most observed in the elderly, with 30% of people over 60 years and 50% over 85 years of age affected.[iii] Moreover, women are two to three times more likely to be affected by vertigo.[iv]

Routine tasks like moving around the house, grocery shopping, going to work are challenging with vertigo. It has far-reaching consequences on social interactions, with affected individuals inclined to stay at home, leading to a loss of independence and psychological effects like anxiety and depression.[v],[vi] Especially in women, this creates a vicious cycle, as a rise in anxiety and the circulating levels of the stress hormone – cortisol trigger vertigo.[vii] It can also impact an individual’s work life, resulting in changing or giving up jobs, reduced efficiency and lost workdays, which can consequently have an economic impact on people.[viii]

Despite its high prevalence, there is a lack of awareness about the condition.[ix] Individuals often ignore such daily issues as general dizziness, which makes vertigo diagnosis at the primary care level because dizziness as a symptom is difficult to describe and to standardize. Moreover, it can be hard to diagnose vertigo as it’s symptoms, like nausea and vomiting, are hard to distinguish from other conditions.[x] Fortunately, vertigo can be treated with physical therapy, dietary changes and lifestyle adjustments, medication, psychotherapy, or even surgery in some cases. This includes vestibular rehabilitation exercises, customized to individual cases in consultation with one’s doctor. Hence, there is a need to increase awareness to aid early diagnosis and effective treatment options.

Dr. Sreekanta Swamy, Head of Neurology, Aster RV Hospital, Bangalore commented, “Awareness of vertigo needs to be heightened so individuals can seek help at the earliest. This is especially important as it can be a symptom of various health conditions,[xi] impact everyday life and lead to potentially serious consequences and conditions including fractures or falls. Adherence to combined exercise-based and medical treatment may be beneficial to help individuals improve their lifestyle.”

Dr Parag Sheth, Regional Medical Director, Abbott India said, “While vertigo is debilitating condition that can greatly impact an individual’s life, it can be managed with appropriate care. At Abbott, we are committed to raising vertigo awareness and offering trusted solutions. Thus, we are providing educational materials including video tutorials of vestibular exercises to help people proactively manage their condition. This can empower them to move forward with confidence, so they can regain their balance and live fuller, healthier lives.”

Lifestyle solutions can improve symptoms, but at the same time, many people with vertigo do not stick to prescribed treatments.[xii] Adherence of medication schedules and following doctor’s advice is also necessary to reducing the number and severity of attacks. This can help people keep their vertigo in check, supporting them on their path to recovery.

Oversubscribed Chiratae Ventures Growth Fund -I Announces Its First Close At INR 759 Crore

·         Chiratae Ventures Growth Fund - I (CGF - I) announces its first close at INR 759 Cr; final close by the end of the year with substantial oversubscription

·         Plans to invest in growth opportunities, startups raising Series C and beyond rounds

Chiratae Ventures, India's leading early-stage technology-focused venture capital fund, has announced the first close of its fundraising, which will be dedicated solely to growth-stage portfolio. The Chiratae Ventures Growth Fund - I (CGF - I) has been oversubscribed at INR 759 Cr. Chiratae plans to now close its green shoe commitments by Dec 2022. 

Chiratae Growth Fund -I will invest in the growth rounds of market-leading technology startups from its portfolio and outside. It will be a sector-agnostic fund to support the growth and expansion of tech companies. The fund is targeting to invest across 15-20 companies. 

Chiratae Ventures has raised five early-stage funds and manages  $1.1 bn in AUM. The firm has a successful track record of investing in early and growth-stage startups across its 16-year history. It has been an early backer of technology-led companies such as Bizongo, Curefit, EarlySalary, Firstcry, GoMechanic, Lenskart, Myntra, PolicyBazaar, Pyxis, Vayana, and Uniphore, amongst others. Chiratae is unique as it’s the only VC firm in India to have returned capital every year for a decade.

Sudhir Sethi, Founder and Chairman of Chiratae Ventures said, “We are pleased to announce our fund close at INR 759 cr for our maiden Chiratae Growth Fund 1. This is one of our fastest fundraisings. We thank our investors for recognising our performance, strategy, returns and governance. The fund will be focused on fueling the growth of 15-20 technology startups at growth stage.”

This is the first growth fund raised by Chiratae Ventures. The fund counts domestic institutional investors such as Kris Gopalakrishnan FO, Choksi Family Office (promoters of Asian Paints), SBI and IIFL Wealth & Asset Management and other Family Offices, as well as existing global investors and key LPs.

TC Meenakshi Sundaram, Founder and Vice-Chairman of Chiratae Ventures, said, “This is one of the fastest fundraise we have seen. Thanks to our Investors, we are oversubscribed and are looking to close this by the end of the year. We are excited about investing in companies that solve population-scale problems.”

Mr. Kris Gopalakrishnan, Member, Global Advisory Board, Chiratae Ventures, and Co-Founder of Infosys, said, “I am glad that Chiratae, as the largest home-grown venture growth firm, has achieved its fastest fund closure of Chiratae Growth Fund 1, on the back of a decade plus long history of stellar returns, high governance, firm institutionalization, backing Unicorns with capital from Indian as well as global investors repeatedly.”

About Chiratae Ventures:

Launched in 2006, Chiratae Ventures India Advisors is India's leading technology Venture Capital funds advisor. The funds advised by Chiratae Ventures India Advisors collectively have close to $1.1Bn under management and 128+ investee companies across SaaS, Consumer Media & Tech, Health-tech, and Fin-tech. The fund has been an early backer of Cure.fit, FirstCry, Flipkart, Globalbees, Lenskart, Manthan, Myntra, PolicyBazaar and has invested in leaders like AgroStar, Bizongo, Bounce, Cropin, EarlySalary, GoMechanic, HealthifyMe, Hevo Data, Pyxis, Uniphore Vayana, amongst others. Chiratae closed its fourth fund, oversubscribed at $337 million in 2021. The team has delivered value for its investors through the years with over 45 exits, 3 IPOs and 8 Unicorns, with more around the corner.

Chiratae Ventures is India’s leading early-stage technology-focused venture capital fund backing stellar entrepreneurs disrupting or creating new ecosystems. With a team of over 30 professionals having a cumulative VC experience of 100+ years. Chiratae’s Global Advisory board consists of esteemed personalities such as Mr. Ratan Tata (Chairman), Kris Gopalakrishnan, Manish Choksi (Vice Chairman Asian Paints), Bruno Raschle (Founder Adveq Zurich), Dr Andreas Hettich (Chairman Hettich Corporation Germany) and Dr Ferzaan Engineer (Founder Cytecare and Nightingale).

New Global Report Demonstrates FedEx Economic Global Impact

* In Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa (AMEA), FedEx indirectly contributed to net economic output worth US$3.8 billion across the AMEA region’s economy in FY 2022 – a 12% increase over FY 2021

FedEx Corp. (NYSE: FDX) has released the findings from its 2022 report that analyzed the company’s impact on the global economy with key regional and market-specific analyses from around the world at the conclusion of its 2022 fiscal year (FY 2022). The report, produced in consultation with Dun & Bradstreet (NYSE: DNB), a leading global provider of business decisioning data and analytics, for the first time analyzed the impact FedEx has on economies around the world. Over the past 49 years, FedEx has expanded its services to more than 220 countries and territories and invested in a global network enabling businesses of all sizes to access and grow the global economy.

The report found that FedEx played an integral role in helping businesses recover from the pandemic while overcoming strained supply chains and economic challenges. With nearly 550,000 employees worldwide, FedEx moved an average of 16 million shipments each day through its 5,000 facilities in FY 2022. The company’s network optimization and investments improved efficiency and capacity for FedEx customers.

“All around the world, FedEx helped individuals, businesses, and communities emerge from the pandemic by moving goods and providing services that connect us and power the global economy,” said Raj Subramaniam, President and CEO, FedEx Corporation. “The report illustrates the ongoing and important work we do every day, including supporting small- and medium-sized businesses which are the backbone of our local communities. We call this, the ‘FedEx Effect’.”

Measuring the FedEx Effect:

The shipping and logistics company plays a role in fueling innovation, creating, and supporting local jobs, as well as helping lift individuals and their communities regionally and in major markets around the world.

FedEx worked with 360,000 suppliers globally who employed more than 16.5 million individuals. These businesses, many of which are small businesses, created significant economic activity within their local or regional markets and had a combined annual revenue of $700 billion.

FedEx global economic activity supported 193,000 additional jobs beyond the FedEx worldwide employee base in FY 2022, which is 20,000 more jobs than FedEx indirectly supported in FY 2021.

Small businesses made up 88% of the FedEx supply chain, and more than half of the FedEx supply chain spend in each region went to small businesses—which collectively supported roughly 810,000 small business jobs around the world.

In FY 2022, FedEx invested $6.8 billion—a 15% increase over FY 2021—in facility improvements, network optimization and infrastructure improvements, which correlated to direct economic growth in the respective markets.

Impact Across Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa (AMEA)

The company’s presence in Asia, the Pacific, the Middle East, Indian Subcontinent and Africa serves more than 100 countries and territories in a highly inter-connected region that is playing an increasingly prominent role as a driver of global trade. To support the region’s economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, FedEx made strategic investments, as outlined in the report, that contributed to a 13% increase in employment, supporting more than 58,000 jobs beyond its 37,000 team members in the AMEA region.

“Through our continuous commitment to the region we have helped support hundreds of thousands of businesses and communities still recovering from the pandemic,” said Kawal Preet, regional president, Asia Pacific, Middle East, and Africa (AMEA), FedEx Express. “Our investments in our hubs in Guangzhou, Osaka and Dubai enable us to meet demand and optimize routes for our customers as supply chains fluctuate. Our new and improved facilities like the Clark gateway facility in the Philippines, as well as the consolidation at our Delhi hub creates greater access to emerging markets and increases efficiency.”

FedEx economic footprint in the region continues to grow. The company recently established a direct commercial presence in Cambodia as well as in Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Jordan. In India, the company set up a new US$2 million international clearance gateway at Bangalore airport and consolidated and expanded its multi-million dollar hub at Delhi International airport. 

FedEx is committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace, an important contributor to recent accolades including ranking on the World’s Best Workplaces list compiled by Fortune magazine in 21st place and being recognized with the award for ‘Best Gender Equality Workplace’ by the World HRD Congress in India. In October 2021, Kawal Preet signed the CEO statement of support for the Women’s Empowerment Principles established by the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women and the United Nations Global Compact.  

Giving Impact

The report shows that in FY 2022, FedEx donated over $86 million globally to charities and local non-profits in the communities where its team members live and work. In the AMEA region this includes environmental programs, childhood education, entrepreneurship, and healthcare initiatives to help improve lives. The company also served as a critical conduit for food aid deliveries to residents in Shanghai, China during COVID-19 lockdowns in the city and delivered vaccines and critical medical supplies to India, Korea, and Vietnam among others. In India, FedEx Express collaborated with United Way Mumbai to support more than 700 women-led micro and small businesses across Maharashtra with resources to restart businesses impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

FedEx is committed to connecting the world responsibly, through its stated goal of carbon-neutral operations by 2040 and pursuit of investments in renewable energy to power its operations.

Healthcare Platform, Eka Care, Ramps Up Product Development In Bengaluru

Startup based out of Bengaluru, Eka Care, is building a connected healthcare ecosystem for people across the country. In June 2022, the company raised $15 million and is laser-focused on developing the most advanced Patient Health Records (PHR) app and hiring the right talent to scale the team. Eka Care also aims to make it easier for doctors to switch to digital practices and educate people how important it is to maintain their health profile.

"Our vision is to build a technology platform to enable every Indian to create and manage their health profile in the Eka care PHR app. The trust of marquee investors in our vision has elevated our confidence. We are super excited to continue reforming the way healthcare is delivered in India by building tools for both careseekers and caregivers of the country," shared Vikalp Sahni, CEO, Eka Care.

Eka Care Was Founded By Vikalp Sahni, Deepak Tuli & Abhishek Begerhotta In December 2020 

The company has been building an advanced PHR app for users to monitor their health by digitising medical records & monitoring health vitals. While, the advanced clinic management tool built for doctors gives them more power to scale their practice digitally.

Within its first year of inception, Eka Care PHR app became India's largest repository of health records and vitals, with more than 3 crore health records, 16 lakh ABHAs, and more than 10,000 doctors using the platform.

Anybody can create their own health profiles by storing medical records such as prescriptions, lab reports and scans, vaccinations and development milestones for children, heart rate trends, blood sugar information, and much more on the Eka Care app. All the health records can be easily linked to your Ayushman Bharat Health Account (ABHA), an Govt of India initiative, which is a unique health identity (much like Aadhar) that enables quick access and sharing of health records digitally.

“We have seen a huge amount of traction with our consent-based feature, Gmail Sync. As the name suggests, users can link their Gmail account with our app to effortlessly import health records sent to their Gmail privatly & securly. Our ML engine extracts relevant medical records from one’s Gmail account, stores,  and organizes them in the Eka app. Furthermore, our system provides  personalised trends of an individual’s biomarkers in a graphical format. This makes it easy for them to visualize and track their health parameters over a period of time. The information can also be shared instantly with caregivers, enabling them to provide better care.” said Dr. Sankalp Gulati, Head of Data Science and Founding Member at Eka Care.

“eka.care has helped me view my patient’s complete medical history at a glance. This has been instrumental in providing better care especially to chronic patients. My patients do not carry old prescriptions, lab reports, and other documents as I have them stored on Eka now. The app also gives me meaningful insights and trends to understand my patient’s vitals and health journey.

I have always encouraged my patients to store their records, and keep them organized. I am glad that today, this task has become easy for my patients and for me as a caregiver.” Dr. Sharat Honnati, Consultant Physician & Diabetologist, Practicing at HSR Layout Bengaluru.