Indian pioneers who have redefined the healthcare sector

Dr. Ravishankar Polisetty, Dr. Prathap C. Reddy, Dr. Soumya Swaminathan, and Dr. Randeep Guleria have put India on the global stage with their achievements.

As India continues its journey towards the goal of becoming a global healthcare hub, it also is striving to provide equitable healthcare to all its citizens while navigating numerous challenges. In such a scenario, meet four achievers who have made a significant impact on healthcare not just in India but globally.

As a globally renowned cardiac surgeon and member of numerous cardiac surgery associations across the world, Dr. Ravishankar Polisetty pioneered the regeneration of heart tissue in experimental animal models of Myocardial Infarction (Heart attack). However, even as a medical student,  he had found the symptom-based approach of allopathy to be lacking in a holistic perspective of healing and human health. Guided by his conviction that allopathy alone might not provide answers to questions about the root causes of diseases, he turned to Ayurveda for more comprehensive solutions. He learned Sanskrit to study original Ayurvedic texts and after years of translational research,  invented a new form of clinical biotechnology, ‘Poly Scientific Ayurveda’ (PSA) that is now revolutionising global health care. He has also authored over 100 scientific publications, holds several patents, and has lectured at many international universities. He is now globally recognised as the force behind the trailblazing  Sai Ganga Panakeia (SGP).

By merging ancient wisdom with modern technology, PSA has treated approximately 28,000 end-stage disease patients in India with a success rate of 96% among those who have followed the complete PSA protocol. This success is attributed to the enhanced efficacy of traditional Ayurvedic treatments through the integration of advanced digital technologies, such as Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning. PSA has developed a unique diagnostic system, including ‘Naadi Pareeksha’ (pulse diagnosis). Dr. Polisetty has also created a device called Docture-PolyTM which monitors patients’ VPK (Vata-Pitta-Kapha) balance. The Docture Poly is a cutting-edge, non-invasive diagnostic device designed to assist Ayurvedic practitioners in monitoring a patient’s Vata, Pitta, and Kapha balance. In addition to detecting imbalances in these energies, it can also provide non-invasive blood biochemistry readings, such as HbA1c, random blood sugars, and a complete lipid profile. Based on the patient’s constitution and health condition,

Padma Vibhushan Dr. Prathap C. Reddy is the founder of  Apollo Hospitals and at 91, still one of the most dynamic entrepreneurs who continue to energise the private healthcare sector in India. The winner of this year’s BT-PwC India’s Best CEOs award for Lifetime Achievement had a successful career as a cardiologist in the US. However, he returned to India in the 1970s in order to bridge healthcare and infrastructural gaps and set up India’s first corporate hospital focused on cardiac care in Chennai against multiple financial and logistical odds. That one step led to a chain of over 300 hospitals. He also spearheaded telemedicine in 2000 by connecting his native village to a doctor via a satellite link and pioneered the Re.1-a-day insurance project that led to India’s Universal Health Insurance program. He also conceptualized the Master Health Check in the mid-70s. Apollo is also responsible for ProHealth, an AI-powered healthcare platform, and the Billion Hearts Beating Foundation, promoting heart health in India. Apollo boasts nearly 25 million registered users of the Apollo 24/7 digital platform.  Dr. Reddy’s achievements also include NATHEALTH, an initiative for health policy improvement, GAPIO, a global network of Indian-origin physicians, ‘Save a Child’s Heart’ Initiative and the Total Health Foundation which has been recognized by institutions like the Harvard School of Public Health.

65-year-old Dr. Soumya Swaminathan was in the news recently for being awarded the honorary doctorate by Canada’s McGill University. She has also received several other honorary doctorates, including from EPFL in Lausanne and the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine.  She has also made news for co-chairing Our Common Air (OCA), a new global commission launched by the Clean Air Fund (CAF) in London, and the Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW) in New Delhi.  She is highly respected in international arenas and also served as WHO’s Chief Scientist and as Deputy Director-General for Programmes. It was a huge honour for India that she was the inaugural Chief Scientist at WHO and went on to form a Science Division. During the pandemic in particular, she was at the forefront of the efforts to ensure equitable vaccine distribution to underserved countries. Her path-breaking research on tuberculosis and HIV has led to impactful healthcare programs. As the Secretary to the Government of India for Health Research and the Director General of the Indian Council of Medical Research,  she rooted policy-making in science. She has additionally coordinated the UNICEF/UNDP/World Bank/WHO Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases in Geneva.

Padma Shri Randeep Guleria is a renowned Indian pulmonologist, the ex-director of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi and has the unique distinction of establishing India’s first centre for pulmonary medicines and sleep disorders at AIIMS. He also played a big role in formulating India’s response to the pandemic and co-authored the book, ‘Till We Win: India’s Fight Against The COVID-19 Pandemic.’ Currently, he is serving as the Chairman of the Institute of Internal Medicine & Respiratory and Sleep Medicine and as the Director of Medanta Medical School.  As a consultant to various international and national organisations, including the World Health Organization (WHO) in Geneva and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in Vienna, Dr Guleria has offered invaluable healthcare strategies informed by the latest scientific research and compassionate patient care.