K. Muraleedharan, Minister for Health, Family Welfare and Devaswoms, launching the Centre of Excellence in Fetal Medicine and Jananeeyam – “The Free Fetal Scan” Initiative, at Aster Medcity
Kochi, Sept 01 : Aster Medcity inaugurated Centre of Excellence in Fetal Medicine, a specialised facility offering comprehensive prenatal diagnosis, fetal monitoring, and multidisciplinary maternal-fetal care for expectant mothers and unborn babies. The occasion also marked the digital launch of Jananeeyam – “The Free Fetal Scan” Initiative, aimed at making essential fetal screening accessible to expectant mothers from government hospitals across Kerala.
“We will work to extend good initiatives that are running well in private hospitals to government hospitals as well. The Jananeeyam programme at the Centre for Fetal Medicinein Aster Medcity is one such initiative. By giving mothers the opportunity to give birth to healthy babies in the future, a major gain is being achieved here in the field of health,said Chief Guest K. Muraleedharan, Minister for Health, Family Welfare and Devaswoms, inaugurating the event. The Minister specially expressed gratitude to Aster Medcity for providing the greatest support in carrying out the liver transplant surgery for the kid from Thrissur who were poisoned by the father.
S Ramesh Kumar, Chief Executive Officer – India 1, Aster DM Quality Care Pvt. Ltd. presided over the function.
As part of the Jananeeyam initiative, the centre will offer five free scans daily to patients referred from government institutions, including Medical College and district hospitals. The programme covers anomaly scans, 3D/4D fetal evaluation, fetal echocardiography, and fetal neurosonogram, with any case requiring a second opinion also being assessed free of cost.
Speaking about the initiative, Dr. Bijoy K Balakrishnan, Senior Consultant and Programme Director, Department of Fetal Medicine at Aster Medcity, said that the centre is designed to ensure accurate diagnosis, timely intervention, and compassionate support for mothers throughout their pregnancy journey.
The newly launched centre brings together fetal medicine specialists, obstetricians, neonatologists, genetic experts, and pediatric subspecialists under one roof, offering personalised care for both routine and high-risk pregnancies.
The event was attended by S Ramesh Kumar, Chief Executive Officer – India 1, Aster DM Quality Care Pvt. Ltd, Dr. Nalanda Jayadev, Regional CEO, Central Kerala, Aster DM Quality Care Limited; Dr. Shuhaib Kader, Chief Operating Officer, Aster Medcity; Dr. T R John, Chief of Medical Services, Aster Medcity; Dr. Bijoy K Balakrishnan, Senior Consultant and Programme Director, Department of Fetal Medicine and Ms. Jeffy Stephen, Service Line Manager – Fetal Medicine.