The Apollo Proton Cancer Centre (APCC), the first Proton Therapy Centre in South Asia and The Middle East, July 3 announced its accreditation by Joint Commission International (JCI), the recognized global leader in health care accreditation.

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In a statement here on July 3, it was stated that with this it makes APCC, India’s first dedicated advanced cancer centre to receive this international accreditation, and the 8th hospital in the Apollo Hospitals Group to join the portfolio of JCI accredited hospitals. Since its commencement in June 2019, APCC has been the preferred cancer centre across the globe for Proton Therapy and Cancer Care Management. JCI accreditation is a prestigious achievement and benchmark in the healthcare industry for following the best global practices and offering exceptional patient care and safety.

Dr. Prathap C Reddy, Chairman, Apollo Hospitals said, “More than 25 years ago, we noted the growing prevalence of cancer in India, the lack of Oncology centres in the country and this was the genesis of Apollo embarking on advanced cancer care. From the very beginning, we brought in the most advanced technologies in cancer care and even the recent launch of South Asia and the Middle East’s first Proton Therapy at Apollo Proton Cancer Centre, reiterates our commitment to investing in the best available care for our patients. I am pleased that Apollo Proton Cancer Centre (APCC) has been accorded a special honour, it is now the first advanced cancer centre in India to be accredited by JCI. This recognition of our quality standards will further strengthen our resolve to keep raising the bar in Oncology!”

“The APCC was conceived to be among the best in the world and in keeping with this vision; we have the latest state-of-the-art Proton Therapy machine with the best team of doctors handling various disciplines in Oncology to manage the centre. It is a matter of pride that the top 10 leading Cancer care specialists are working with us and to ensure they can deliver the best of care to our patients, we have equipped them with advanced ultramodern medical technology to ensure our centre is a world class proton care centre!”

The Joint Commission International accreditation is the gold standard given to organizations that practice and follow the highest International Standards in order to provide world-class patient care and safety. A team of expert JCI physicians, nurses, and health care administrators evaluated more than a thousand measurable elements and assessed the level of performance in relation to established standards and efforts for continuous improvements. This accreditation is proof of the meticulous standards of hospital management and cancer treatment established in the centre, enabling improved and advanced care for patients.

Ms. Preetha Reddy, Vice Chairperson, Apollo Hospitals said, “It was just about 12 months ago, that the very first Proton Therapy in South Asia and The Middle East was unveiled at the Apollo Proton Cancer Centre (APCC) in Chennai. It marked a definitive step ahead by making the world’s most advanced radiation therapy much more accessible, benefitting a population of over 3.5 billion people. Now, once again raising the bar, APCC has become the first dedicated cancer hospital in India to be accredited by JCI, the gold standard for Quality. It is also the first successful Proton Therapy Centre accredited by JCI in South Asia and The Middle East. Further, this milestone was achieved despite the challenges posed by the pandemic, which underscores the APCC’s commitment to quality and advanced patient care.”

The Apollo Proton Cancer Centre introduced Proton Therapy for the first time in India with the expertise of a Multi-Disciplinary Cancer Management Teams and an organ-specific practice. It is also the first and only Proton Centre in South Asia and the Middle East. To date, over 200 patients from across the globe have benefitted from Proton Therapy, within its first year of operation. The core clinical values of the Oncology team enabled with technology makes the treatment successful. A team of well-experienced doctors, management personnel, nurses and care professionals ensure that patients feel safe, comfortable and receive the epitome of oncology care during their journey of cancer treatment. The accreditation has motivated the team to push themselves to bring all the efforts together and forge better healthcare standards.

“Joint Commission International (JCI) commends Apollo Proton Cancer Centre for its commitment to meeting international quality and patient safety standards by earning JCI accreditation during the global pandemic,” says the president and CEO, JCI. “This achievement was possible by utilizing JCI’s virtual survey process, where surveys are conducted through the use of technology. This exemplifies how our virtual survey process supports physical distancing and other safety concerns while maintaining the same rigor as a JCI on-site survey", the statement added.