Kolkata, June 13, 2026: Reinforcing its position as one of India’s leading centres for advanced respiratory and thoracic care, Yashoda Hospitals Hyderabad organized a media interaction in Kolkata to highlight its landmark achievements in Pulmonology, Interventional Pulmonology, Thoracic Surgery, Robotic Surgery, and Lung Transplantation.
The event was addressed by renowned specialists from Yashoda Hospitals Hyderabad: Dr. Manjunath Bale, Consultant Robotic and Minimally Invasive Thoracic Surgeon, Yashoda Hospitals Hyderabad along with Dr. J. V. S. Aswith Chowdary, Consultant Clinical & Interventional Pulmonologist, Allergy & Immunology Specialist, Yashoda Hospitals Hyderabad. Also present at the press meet were: Mr. Sanjay Bhattacharya, AGM – Marketing, Yashoda Hospitals Hyderabad and Sagar Mukherjee, Assistant Manager – Marketing, Yashoda Hospitals Hyderabad.
Speaking at the event, Dr. Manjunath Bale shared insights into the rapid advancements in robotic and minimally invasive thoracic surgery, lung cancer management, and lung transplantation. He emphasized that technological innovation, combined with multidisciplinary expertise, is significantly improving patient outcomes and accelerating recovery. Highlighting the department’s achievements, he stated that the Department of Thoracic Surgery is one of the leading centres in the country for advanced VATS, robotic thoracic surgery, and lung transplantation. He further noted that the team has extensive experience in Single-Port VATS and robotic surgery, and the thoracic team at Yashoda Hitec City, headed by Dr. Manjunath Bale, performed the country’s first uniportal robotic thoracic surgery.
Dr. Bale also pointed out that Yashoda Hospitals is among the few centres in India offering Hyperthermic Intra-Thoracic Chemotherapy (HITHOC), possesses vast expertise in tuberculosis surgery, and runs a successful Lung Nodule Clinic where early-stage lung cancers are identified and treated with curative intent, while advanced lung cancers are managed through systemic therapy followed by surgery. He added that Yashoda Hospitals is also among the select centres in India performing bilateral lung transplantation.
Addressing the media, Dr. J. V. S. Aswith Chowdary highlighted the growing burden of respiratory diseases such as asthma, COPD, interstitial lung disease (ILD), and lung cancer in India. He stressed the importance of early diagnosis, advanced Bronchoscopy techniques, and Interventional Pulmonology in improving clinical outcomes and enhancing patients’ quality of life.
The experts reiterated Yashoda Hospitals’ commitment to making world-class respiratory care, advanced thoracic surgery, and transplant services more accessible to patients across Eastern India. They emphasized the hospital’s focus on delivering cutting-edge treatment backed by clinical excellence, innovation, and patient-centric care.
The session concluded with an engaging interaction with the media, covering emerging trends in pulmonology, robotic thoracic surgery, organ transplantation, critical care medicine, and the future of advanced respiratory healthcare in India.
Key Achievements of Yashoda Hospitals in Pulmonology & Lung Transplantation:
• Yashoda Hospitals performed the first lung transplantation in the Telugu States in 2012, establishing itself as a pioneer in advanced thoracic and transplant care.
• The hospital successfully performed the first combined Heart-Lung Transplant in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, marking a major milestone in transplant medicine.
• Yashoda Hospitals achieved a historic breakthrough by performing India’s first successful double lung transplantation for paraquat poisoning, a highly complex and rare procedure documented in only a few cases worldwide. The multidisciplinary transplant team included Dr. Manjunath Bale among the lead thoracic surgeons.
• The institution has developed one of India’s leading Heart & Lung Transplant Programs, supported by internationally trained transplant surgeons, pulmonologists, intensivists, cardiothoracic surgeons, and dedicated transplant specialists.
• Yashoda Hospitals reports approximately 80–85% one-year survival rates following lung transplantation, reflecting outcomes comparable to leading global transplant centres.
• The hospital is equipped with advanced transplant infrastructure including ECMO support systems, dedicated transplant ICUs, modular operating theatres, and comprehensive rehabilitation services to support complex respiratory and transplant patients.
• During the COVID-19 pandemic, Yashoda Hospitals managed one of the country’s largest volumes of critically ill respiratory patients, including extensive ECMO-supported care and air ambulance transfers from across India.
• The Pulmonology and Interventional Pulmonology departments offer advanced procedures including therapeutic bronchoscopy, airway interventions, lung cancer diagnostics, management of severe respiratory disorders, and multidisciplinary critical care services.
