CHENNAI: A special postage stamp in recognition of the contribution of Apollo Hospitals towards Indian healthcare was released by Union Minister of Communications and Information
Technology A. Raja here on Monday.
He handed the first stamp to Tamil Nadu Deputy Chief Minister M.K. Stalin.
Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Raja said Apollo’s achievement over the last 25 years was no
mean feat. It had grown to the stature of an institution that proved an example to other
healthcare providers in the country.
Apollo is the first and only hospital to receive such recognition from the government.
Mr. Raja also recounted his personal experience as a patient in Apollo Hospitals after an
accident in 2001. He said he had to spend over 30 days in the hospital and was “protected as if I
was a child in the womb.” No other hospital in the country can compare to Apollo, the minister
added.
Praising Prathap C. Reddy, founder and chairman of Apollo Hospitals, for developing such an
institution of high standards, Mr. Raja said Dr. Reddy’s leadership skills enabled him to see what
was not apparent to others.
Mr. Stalin said Tamil Nadu was proud of its association with Apollo Hospitals, a chain of
institutions known for the quality of its doctors, diagnostic equipment, hygiene, tender care and
state-of-the-art treatment facilities. In fact, he added, Apollo was among the hospitals that
have contributed to stemming the trend of outbound movement of doctors and specialists
from India.
The hospital has also been participating in development programmes charted out by the State
government. While Apollo’s Managing Director Preetha Reddy serves on the Disaster
Management team constituted by the government, the hospital was part of the Kalaignar
Insurance Programme for lifesaving treatment. Releasing the stamp was one way of thanking
the Apollo group for over 25 years of service, Mr. Stalin said. |
