Section 34
Prathap C Reddy
A cardiologist who opened India's first corporate hospital, Apollo Chennai, in 1983. (Apollo Hospitals)
- life
- Born 1933
- era
- 1947 to 1991
- 50
- Age when he opened Apollo Chennai · 1983
- 10,000
- Apollo hospital beds (about) · 2013
- 3.2 crore (32 million)
- People treated at Apollo hospitals (more than) · 2013
The story
Dr Prathap C Reddy studied medicine at Stanley Medical College in Chennai and trained as a cardiologist in the UK and USA. He returned to India in 1971.
He believed public and charity hospitals needed strong private hospitals alongside them. When he set up Apollo Hospitals in Chennai in 1983, private hospital chains were almost unknown in India. He was 50 years old.
The 150-bed hospital on Greams Road was opened in September 1983 by President Zail Singh. Apollo grew into a chain; by 2013 Khaleej Times reported it had about 10,000 beds.
Timeline
- 1933Born on 5 February.
- 1971Returns to India after training abroad.
- 1983Apollo Hospitals, Chennai, opens in September.
- 2013Apollo has about 10,000 beds and has treated more than 3.2 crore people.
- 2013His first book, Stay Healthy, India!, is announced by Penguin.