Dr. Prathap C. Reddy
Founder, Chairman

HUMANITARIAN PAR EXCELLENCE – ‘HEALER’
Dr. Prathap C Reddy, the visionary Founder Chairman of Apollo Hospitals is widely acknowledged as the architect of modern Indian healthcare. He is best described as a compassionate humanitarian, who dedicated his life to bringing world-class healthcare within the economic and geographic reach of millions. The institution that he envisioned and built – Apollo Hospitals, steered a revolution and marked the birth of the private healthcare industry in India.
Apollo Hospitals opened its doors in 1983 and introduced international quality healthcare to India, at a cost that was a fraction of comparable costs in the western world. This was Apollo’s first act of social responsibility and it underscored the intrinsic social conscience of the organization’s business model.
A VISIONARY ENTREPRENEUR
Over the years, Dr. Reddy has carried the torch of healthcare to distant corners of India. Always the visionary, he harnessed technology and insurance to take healthcare to the masses. The pioneering success of telemedicine and innovative insurance in Aragonda, the world’s first V-SAT enabled remote village in Andhra Pradesh validated the concept of ‘Healthcare for All’. He also envisioned the groundbreaking Apollo Reach Hospitals model, one that takes high quality healthcare to semi urban and rural geographies. This blueprint has been taking good health to the very heart of India.
Chairman, Apollo Hospitals Group Dr. Prathap C Reddy A tireless advocate for creating access through insurance, Dr. Reddy firmly believes that mandatory health insurance is critical for the nation. The innovative insurance project of Re.1 a day that he introduced decades ago in his native village has been adopted in multiple ways across the country and created the platform for the Government of India’s Universal Health Insurance programme for the below-poverty-line population.
In the firm belief that preventive healthcare is the key to good health, Dr. Prathap C Reddy assionately propagated it with the concept of Annual Health Checks and over 30 million health checks have been performed by the group till date. As a cardiologist, he recognized that the battle against disease had to go beyond hospitals and he championed the Billion Hearts Beating Foundation, an endeavour that deploys innovative mediums to encourage Indians to stay heart-healthy.
In service to the nation, Dr. Reddy has also been the Chairman of the Confederation of Indian Industry’s National Health Council and advisor to its committees on Healthcare, Health Insurance, Public Health and Pharma. He was pivotal in the genesis of NATHEALTH – the Healthcare Federation of India, which today is one of the nation’s most powerful and influential forums in facilitating the shift in mind-set, delivery and policy making to nurture the gift of good health for all in India.
His biography entitled “Healer: Dr. Prathap Chandra Reddy and the Transformation of India,” showcases his incredible and inspiring journey of healing and caring.
DEDICATED PHILANTHROPIST
A Dedicated Philanthropist, Dr. Reddy introduced social initiatives that helped transcend barriers and a notable example is the Save a Child’s Heart Initiative that is addressing the widespread issue of congenital heart disease in India. In 2014, he championed a pilot in population health in his native village through the Total Health Foundation, which provides comprehensive health for a population of over 70,000. He believes the path to building inclusive communities can be achieved by taking a comprehensive approach, which includes facilitating physical, mental, emotional, financial and even spiritual health for every individual.
RESPECTED AROUND THE WORLD
Dr. Prathap C Reddy was conferred the ‘Padma Vibhushan’, the second highest civilian award by the Government of India, an acknowledgement of his untiring pursuit of excellence in healthcare.
- 1991Conferred the Padma Bhushan by the Government of India
- 1993The Mother St Teresa’s ‘Citizen of the Year’ awardBusiness India Top-50 personalities who made a difference to India since Independence
- 1998Sir Nilrattan Sircar Memorial Oration (JIMA) awardConferred the Fellowship Ad Hominem by the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh
- 2001Ernst & Young ‘Entrepreneur of the Year’ AwardLifetime Achievement award by Hospimedica InternationalFranchise award for Excellence in Business DevelopmentThe ‘Asia–Pacific Bio Leadership’ award by the Marshall School of Business‘Modern Medicare Excellence’ award by the ICICI Group
- 2010Conferred Padma Vibhushan, second highest civilian award by the Government of IndiaLifetime Achievement award from Rotary International and Frost & SullivanLifetime Achievement award from Federation of India Chamber of Commerce & IndustryLifetime Contribution award from All India Management Association
- 2013NDTV Indian Lifetime Achievement AwardAsian Business Leaders Lifetime Achievement AwardCNBC TV18 Lifetime Achievement Award – India Business Leaders Awards
- 2016Conferred an Honorary Doctorate by UNSW, Australia for exemplary contribution to the health and wellbeing of millions
- 2017Conferred as the Global Healthcare Icon by Telemedicine Society of IndiaLifetime Achievement Award from the International Society for Telemedicine & E-HealthThe ‘Iconic Man’ Award conferred by the FICCI Ladies Organisation (FLO)Conferred the Dr. B.L Maheshwari Life Time Achievement Award in Healthcare from Centre for Organization Development
- 2018Felicitated with the Lifetime Achievement Award by All India Senior Citizens Conference (AISCCON)Times of India Healthcare Achievers Conclave confers the Lifetime Achievement Award for Exemplary Commitment and Impactful Contribution to HealthcareConferred with the Lions Humanitarian Award by the Lions Club International Foundation for exemplary humanitarian efforts
- 2019Conferred the ‘Effective Succession Planning’ award at the Economic Times Family Business AwardsConferred ‘Outstanding Institution Builder’ by the All India Management AssociationConferred “Lifetime Achievement Award for Ethical Leadership & Governance” by Asian Centre for Corporate Governance & SustainabilityConferred the “Sanjiv Malik Lifetime Achievement” award by IMTJ Medical Travel Awards“Rotary Institute 2019 Super Achiever Excellence in Healthcare Award “ was presented for pioneering innovation in accessible healthcare, bringing high quality healthcare within the reach of all and conceptualizing a model for preventive healthcare
- 2020Conferred “Lifetime Achievement Award” by E&Y Entrepreneur of the Year
- 2021Honoured with the title of “Honorific Geras” by the Geriatric Society of IndiaPresented the ‘Champion of Humanity Award’ by Hindustan Chamber of CommerceConferred the ICSI Lifetime Achievement Award for Translating Excellence in Corporate Governance into Reality. A prestigious recognition of his lasting commitment and leadership in promoting best in class Corporate Governance principlesConferred the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Business Standard Annual Awards 2021 for being a trailblazer in the world of health care and an exemplary philanthropist
- 2022Eminent winner of the 11th Forbes India Leadership AwardConferred the Business Lifetime Achievement Award at the ‘Na Anayam Vikatan Business Star Awards’Honoured with the prestigious Lifetime Achievement awards at the Economic Times Awards for Corporate ExcellenceFelicitated with the Lifetime Achievement Award by Indian Medical Association JDN MSN TNSBHonoured with the prestigious ‘YSR Life Time Achievement’ AwardConferred an Honorary Doctorate (DSc. Honoris Causa) by Amity University, Uttar Pradesh
- 2023Honoured with the ‘BMA-K S BASU Lifetime Achievement Award for 2021-2022’ by the Bombay Management Association in recognition of his unparalleled contribution to the management movement for nation-building and strengthening India Inc
UPDATED ON 27/09/2023
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