The Sultan of Cardiac Care

He established the concept of a corporate cardiac care hospital by setting up EHIRC in 1988 which is till date known as the mecca of cardiac care. Today, he is busy building the Rs-1,200-crore MediCiti, Gurgaon

Dr Naresh Trehan (62) Chairman, MediCiti Gurgaon

Born on August 12, 1946, Dr Trehan graduated from King George Medical College, Lucknow. He went to the US for an internship in Philadelphia. He completed a thoracic surgery residency under Dr Frank Spencer at New York University.

Before an entrepreneur

After training in general surgery and subsequently cardiac surgery at premier institutions in the US (NYU Medical Centre), he held important academic and clinical positions at the New York University Medical Centre, Bellevue Hospital of the city of New York and Veterans Administration Hospital (Manhattan), US. His pioneering work in the field of coronary artery bypass surgery was at the New York University Medical Centre, New York, US, where he performed over 3,000 coronary artery operations.

Why an entrepreneur?

He wanted to create in India the same standard of healthcare, training and research that he saw in the US. "I was doing well in New York as a coronary bypass surgeon earning over $1.5 million a year, but wanted to come back to provide same standard of treatment that institutes like Mayo Clinic and Cleveland Clinic offered. “I also wanted to provide affordable treatment for cardiac care,” says Dr Trehan, who has conducted over more than 50,000 cardiac surgeries.

With Mediciti, his entrepreneurial endeavour is to create an organisation that has transparent governance and transparent billing system for patients. "With Medicity, I also want to restore the dignity that medicine seems to have lost," says he.

The first move

He decided against practicing in any established hospital and found industrialist HP Nanda to finance his vision of a private heart institute. The land was taken from DDA. “We formed a trust and raised money," says Dr Trehan, who had 10 per cent stake in it, then. Thus, the construction of Escorts Heart Institute started in 1982 and the hospital was commissioned by 1988. It was only after the hospital was about to be commissioned that Dr Trehan returned to India.

Over the years

Within a short period the hospital became a leading name in cardiac surgery and cardiology. After takeover by the Fortis Group, Dr Trehan left Escorts and joined Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals as a Senior Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgeon. Now, as the Chairman of Global Health Private Limited, Dr Trehan is engaged in building a MediCity spread over 43 acres in Gurgaon. "This Rs-1200-crore project has been envisioned as a multi-disciplinary high-tech medical institute and clinically modeled after global centres of excellence such as Johns Hopkins and Mayo Clinic in the US," says he. The first phase of the project with 600 beds is likely to be commissioned by mid 2009. Another 1,200 beds would be added after a few years.

Dr Trehan has collaborated with General Electric (GE) and other financial partners and aims to combine modern medicine with traditional medicine and holistic therapies. Under the MoU, GE India and MediCity will collaborate in a number of initiatives to create a medical institute of world standard, specifically in the areas of high-end medical diagnostics, clinical research and development, utility services like power generation and distribution, lighting, water treatment and other environmental friendly solutions.

Contribution to healthcare

He is a pioneer in the field of minimally invasive heart surgeries, including port access surgery for valve replacement/ repair and atrial septal defect. He brought and promoted the concept of minimally invasive surgery in India. For the first time in India, he performed robotic heart surgery including total endoscopic CABG, transmyocardial laser revascularisation surgery, stem cell therapy for non by-passable coronary arteries and heart failure.

He has been a part of development of many new technologies and devices, including the coapsys, a device meant for mitral valve repair on beating heart.

Awards

He has served as personal surgeon to the President of India since 1991. He has received numerous awards, including the Padma Shri, Padma Bhushan, Lal Bahadur Shastri National Award, Dr BC Roy National Award, Life Time Achievement Award by the International Society of Cardiovascular Ultrasound, Jewel of India in the Millennium by the International Award Committee of Wisitex Foundation in 2002.

Fear and apprehension

He had no fear. "People would doubt as how one single person can revolutionise cardiac care scenario. But I knew that I could and I believe that I did raise the standards of cardiac care. I am also glad that my Indian patients also appreciated my efforts," says he

Mistakes made and lessons learnt

He laments about being betrayed twice. "I have seen how one can get betrayed by others’ greed. With Medicity, I am being extra careful to ensure that I don't lose control of the management," says he.

Tips for entrepreneurship

"Be passionate and obsessed with what you are creating," says he.

An entrepreneur that he admires in healthcare

"Dr Frank Spencer who taught me how to practice ethical medicine," says Dr Trehan.

The road ahead

Besides working on the MediCity, Dr Trehan is conducting research in Ayurveda. "We want to come out with a hospital which would provide an amalgamation of various disciplines of medicines like modern medicine, Ayurveda and Unani," says he. n