New Delhi, September 4, 2026: Fortis Hospital Shalimar Bagh and Fortis Hospital Vasant Kunj today launched dedicated Lung Failure Clinics to provide comprehensive care for patients suffering from advanced and end-stage lung diseases. The clinics will focus on the complete management of advanced lung failure, including evaluation for lung transplantation, and provide patients with access to multidisciplinary, end-to-end respiratory care.

The Lung Failure Clinic at Fortis Hospital Shalimar Bagh will operate every Tuesday and Friday from 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm, while the schedule for Fortis Hospital Vasant Kunj will be announced shortly.

The clinics will be led by Dr Govini Balasubramani, Director, Lung Transplant and Advanced Lung Failure, Gleneagles Hospital Chennai, (A Fortis network hospital); Dr Vikas Maurya, Senior Director and HOD, Respiratory Medicine and Respiratory Critical Care, Fortis Hospital Shalimar Bagh; and Dr Prashant Saxena, Principal Director and Head, Pulmonology, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Fortis Hospital Vasant Kunj.

By bringing together pulmonologists, transplant specialists, rehabilitation experts and allied healthcare professionals, the clinics aim to improve clinical outcomes, enhance quality of life, and ensure continuity of care for patients living with advanced respiratory diseases.

The clinics will offer comprehensive evaluation of advanced lung disease, optimisation of medical therapy and assessment of eligibility for lung transplantation. Eligible patients will receive structured pre-transplant counselling, detailed clinical evaluation and coordinated post-transplant follow-up with transplant specialists.

Patients will also have access to advanced pulmonary function testing, bronchoscopy and interventional pulmonology procedures, pulmonary rehabilitation programmes, nutritional counselling, sleep evaluation, non-invasive ventilation support and personalised education for patients and caregivers.

Double-lung transplant gives 29-year-old physiotherapist a new lease on life

Recently, a 29-year-old physiotherapist successfully underwent a double-lung transplant at Fortis Hospital Shalimar Bagh. She was diagnosed in 2021 with interstitial lung disease (ILD), a serious condition that causes progressive scarring of the lungs. Despite continued treatment, her breathing difficulties progressively worsened, and she was hospitalised in 2023 with severe lung infections and sepsis.

By late 2025, her lung function had deteriorated significantly, leaving her dependent on continuous oxygen support. Recognising the progressive and life-threatening nature of her condition, the multidisciplinary team evaluated her for transplantation. She successfully underwent a double-lung transplant in May 2026 at Fortis Hospital Shalimar Bagh.

The case highlights the importance of timely evaluation by specialised medical teams for patients with progressive and potentially life-threatening lung failure.

Addressing the press conference, Dr Govini Balasubramani, Director, Lung Transplant and Advanced Lung Failure, Gleneagles Hospital Chennai, said, “We are witnessing a steady rise in patients with advanced lung diseases, driven by factors including air pollution, tobacco exposure, occupational hazards, infections, and an ageing population. Unfortunately, many patients reach us only after their lung function has deteriorated significantly. Early diagnosis, timely referral, and specialised multidisciplinary care are critical to slowing disease progression and improving outcomes. The Lung Failure Clinics have been established to bridge this gap by providing comprehensive evaluation, optimisation of medical therapy, pulmonary rehabilitation and, where appropriate, timely assessment for lung transplantation.”

Dr Vikas Maurya, Senior Director and HOD, Respiratory Medicine and Respiratory Critical Care, Fortis Hospital Shalimar Bagh, said, “Advanced lung disease can progressively limit a patient’s ability to breathe and perform everyday activities despite ongoing treatment. A dedicated Lung Failure Clinic brings together the right specialists at the appropriate stage, enabling patients to receive comprehensive multidisciplinary coordinated care and timely evaluation for advanced treatment options, including lung transplantation.”

Dr Prashant Saxena, Principal Director and Head, Pulmonology, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Fortis Hospital Vasant Kunj, said, “The management of advanced respiratory disease must go beyond treating individual symptoms. Bringing together expertise in pulmonology, critical care, rehabilitation, nutrition, and transplantation allows us to plan care around each patient’s overall clinical needs and long-term quality of life.”

Dr Ritu Garg, Chief Growth and Innovation Officer, Fortis Healthcare, said, “The launch of the Lung Failure Clinics reflects our commitment to building centres of excellence that bring together cutting-edge science, multidisciplinary expertise, and compassionate care for patients with complex conditions. Through this integrated programme, we aim to offer renewed hope to patients living with advanced lung disease. We are privileged to have this initiative led by Dr Govini Balasubramani, one of the pioneering heart and lung transplant surgeons who helped establish India’s lung transplant programme. With experience spanning more than 350 heart and lung transplants, Dr Govini has successfully treated patients ranging from 17 to 74 years of age and is among the country’s leading experts in living-donor lung transplantation. His expertise further strengthens Fortis’ commitment to delivering world-class care for patients with advanced lung disease.”