Press Release

Fortis Shalimar Bagh and Fortis Vasant Kunj Launch Dedicated Lung Failure Clinics for Advanced Respiratory Diseases and Transplant Care

Sep 04, 2026

-Delhi’s first comprehensive Lung Failure Clinics will provide multidisciplinary care for advanced lung diseases, including transplant evaluation, pulmonary rehabilitation, and structured follow-up

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 cuttingedge 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.”