Rs 26,560 crore net worth, owns 71 hospitals, and 5,000 pharmacies; still goes to office daily at…, his name is…

Under his leadership, the Apollo Hospitals Group has established around 6000 pharmacies, 2000 retail touchpoints, and well over 25 million registered users on the digital platform Apollo 24/7.

You can hardly take a stroll around town and not see the familiar sight of Apollo Pharmacies. Being a 24/7 operation, it has become the go-to place for everything from prescription medicines to personal care items such as shampoos, soaps, and cosmetics. But behind this omnipresence is an inspiring story. Interested in learning about how Apollo began and became a health care behemoth? Read below!

Dr. Prathap C. Reddy is the founder of India’s largest hospital network, and his incredible work ethic and vision have thoroughly transformed the healthcare system of our country. At the age of 92, he is still following a regimen: he goes to his office every day at 10:00 am, works until 5:00 pm, and does this six days a week. To see his dedication, energy, and lifestyle at that age is astonishing and inspires people, demonstrating that there is no limit to passion and dedication.

As an embodiment of his vision of world-class healthcare services in India, Dr. Prathap C. Reddy founded Apollo Hospitals in Chennai in 1983, and it was an audacious step in a country with hardly any private healthcare. Apollo Hospitals became a bastion for leading doctors and specialists from many prestigious hospitals in the US and UK, as well as non-resident Indian (NRI) specialists.

In 1979, Dr. Prathap C. Reddy was upset by the death of a cardiac patient who was unable to have surgery because he did not have the resources to afford the necessary treatment abroad. This moment became a touchstone for Dr. Reddy. With a strong resolve to transform the system, he took the opportunity to establish Apollo Hospitals in Chennai. With backing from the government and the then Prime Minister, Indira Gandhi, he established Apollo Hospitals in Chennai. This visionary step was a game-changer, bringing world-class cardiac care and comprehensive medical services to India.

Recognized and revered globally, Dr. Prathap C Reddy was honoured with the ‘Padma Vibhushan,’ India’s second-highest civilian award, for his unwavering pursuit of excellence in healthcare. His biography, “Healer: Dr. Prathap Chandra Reddy and the Transformation of India,” serves as a testament to his incredible journey of healing and caring, inspiring generations to come.

Rs 26,560 crore net worth, owns 71 hospitals, and 5,000 pharmacies; still goes to office daily at…, his name is…

Dr. Prathap C. Reddy vowed to create world-class hospitals in India following the unfortunate accident. However, this was not an easy task: at that time, hospitals were not even classified as part of the industry, thus making it impossible to procure loans from banks. Additionally, importing necessary equipment was being charged at 100% duty on the imports.

Apollo Establishment

Nevertheless, Dr. Reddy was not disheartened and undertook approximately 50 journeys to Delhi to meet with different ministers and leaders from the government. In 1982, these meetings were fruitful because Congress leader G.K. Moopanar set up a meeting with then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and Dr. Reddy, completely changing the landscape and opening the way for Dr. Reddy’s plans to change health care in India.

Under his leadership, the Apollo Hospitals Group has established around 6000 pharmacies, 2000 retail touchpoints, and well over 25 million registered users on the digital platform Apollo 24/7.

Dr Reddy is Ram Charan’s father-in-law and Upasana Kamineni’s grandfather. His close relationship with his family, particularly his influence on Upasana, is frequently acknowledged. Dr. Prathap C. Reddy’s net worth is estimated at $3.5 billion by Forbes.

In 1983, with the assistance of the government of India, Dr. Reddy founded the first Apollo Hospital in Chennai, significantly revolutionizing the healthcare landscape of India. When Dr. Reddy first proclaimed to others his dream of building a world-class, private hospital in India, many considered what he was saying to be unrealistic, even silly. Nevertheless, the fact that outsiders had doubts about the dream only served to strengthen Dr. Reddy’s resolve to pioneer Indian Private Healthcare.

Apollo means ‘abode of healing’ in many cultures and is the Greek god of medicine and healing; the new hospital started out with 150 beds. Since then, Apollo Hospitals Group has emerged as a leader in healthcare at the global front—focusing on clinical excellence, medical advancement, and scientific excellence in healthcare research.

Today, Apollo operates over 64 hospitals, has more than 10,000 beds, and employs 65,000+ people including over 4,000 of India’s leading clinicians. Apollo has operated in, and outside of India, treating over 42 million patients from 120 countries, and seven hospitals are recognized by the esteemed Joint Commission International (JCI)—indicating that Apollo’s hospitals follow the highest standards in care.