Business

Prathap Reddy, Apollo Hospitals

The idea to set up a hospital chain simmered within Dr Reddy on returning to India after a successful career in the US. He sensed the potential of good private healthcare.

Advertisement

Prathap Reddy, Apollo Hospitals
info_icon
  • Apollo’s net worth is Rs 3,430 crore

***

Apollo hospitals tells the story of a man with a mission who created a new industry within India. Dr Prathap Reddy, a cardiologist, started a 150-bed hospital in Chennai in 1983 that went on to become what now is a 50-hospital chain.

The initial aim was simple: build a bridge between the huge gap in the demand and supply of hospitals and quality healthcare outside the public system. Yet what set the Apollo chain apart is the dedication to patient satisfaction. Dr Reddy says that for patients to come back and build trust in the hospital, it doesn’t only take solving their health issues, but treating them with care and respect.

Advertisement

A true believer in community, the 83-year-old entrepreneur believes that the immense success of Apollo is not his own doing but that of the Apollo team. The idea to set up the Apollo chain was something that was simmering within him ever since he returned to India after a successful career in the US. Dr Reddy lost several friends and members in the family, including his parents, to disease. This instilled the idea to initiate better healthcare.

What has made Apollo such a success is Dr Reddy’s ability to catch the economics as well as social pulse of the country. He recognised the potential of a good private healthcare hospital in a country which was well on its way to becoming one of the biggest economies in the world.

Advertisement

Dr Reddy holds faith in spirituality and motivates many to join in his faith of creating a chain—a thought that has trickled down to his children who now run the hospitals. Family businesses have a legacy of breaking into parts, but Dr Reddy’s teachings in the institute make the business grow stronger with each generation. 

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement