Wadia Hospital Launches Adult Congenital Heart Disease Clinic in Mumbai
Bai Jerbai Wadia Hospital for Children in Mumbai has launched Western India's first dedicated Adult Congenital Heart Disease (ACHD) clinic to provide lifelong specialized cardiac care for adults treated for heart defects during childhood. The hospital launched the specialized facility on October 2, 2026, and expects to treat approximately 90 to 100 patients annually during its initial operational phase.
The new clinic addresses an emerging clinical need for ongoing cardiac monitoring among adults who underwent surgery or catheter-based interventions during their childhood. Medical experts noted that complications involving heart valves, cardiac rhythm, and general heart function can develop later in life, even when patients appear completely healthy. Studies demonstrate that roughly 20 per cent of children treated for congenital heart defects require continued medical follow-up.
Currently, between 15 and 20 adult congenital heart patients are undergoing follow-up care at the hospital. As the programme develops, the hospital anticipates that patient volumes will rise as more children treated for congenital heart conditions across Mumbai reach adulthood and require specialized care.
The clinic will offer comprehensive diagnostic and therapeutic services, including cardiac imaging, echocardiography, electrocardiograms (ECGs), functional assessments, and arrhythmia evaluations. Patients will also have direct access to catheter-based interventions and cardiac surgery whenever required.
Dr Hetan Shah stated that congenital heart conditions differ fundamentally in both anatomy and physiology from heart diseases that develop during adulthood. To address these unique requirements, the clinic brings together adult and paediatric cardiologists, electrophysiologists, cardiac surgeons, and imaging specialists to ensure continuity of care.
Dr Kshitij Sheth explained that cardiac follow-up should not stop when a patient reaches the age of 18, pointing out that complications can develop silently without symptoms. Regular specialist evaluations help detect functional changes in the heart, valves, and rhythms at an early stage.
Dr Minnie Bodhanwala, CEO of Bai Jerbai Wadia Hospital for Children, stated that the hospital's paediatric cardiology department treats over 1,000 children annually. Advances in neonatal care, intensive care, surgery, and catheter interventions have led to higher survival rates, expanding the adult population requiring specialized follow-up.
The hospital noted that dedicated ACHD clinics remain a relatively new concept in India. The programme aims to reconnect with former paediatric patients and establish structured lifelong monitoring.
