Trehan quits Escorts to join Apollo

New Delhi, May 30 (UNI) Four days after his reinstatement as the Executive Director of Fortis-owned Escorts Heart Institute and Research Centre Limited (EHIRC), cardiologist Naresh Trehan today announced his resignation from the hospital and said he will be joining the Indraprastha Apollo Hospital here.

''It was important for me and Dr Yatin Mehta to return to Escorts Heart Institute to reinstate an atmosphere of calm and make sure that patients are taken care of... After having done that, it was time to disassociate myself from the Fortis Group in every respect and start a new chapter in my professional life,'' Dr Trehan told a press conference which was also attended by Chairman of Apollo Hospitals Dr Pratap C Reddy.

He said the past ten days had been very difficult and he would like to revisit them, referring to the standoff with the Fortis Management which owns 90 per cent of EHIL.

''I leave EHIL with good wishes for its future as I have close emotional attachement to it,. Escorts will remain a source of great pride to me and my team who worked with me over the past 20 years,'' he added.

Sources told UNI that Dr Trehan will be joined by hundred doctors and technicians at the Apollo Hospital.

His resignation from EHIRCL will be in effect from June 1, but he will be joining Apollo Hospital from June 4.

In a statement, Dr Shivinder Singh, Managing Director of EHIRLCL while accepting the resignation, acknowledged that Dr Trehan has left a strong legacy and foundation that will continue to be built upon.

However, Dr Trehan will continue to hold 10 per cent shares in EHIRC as per the order of the Delhi court.

''The High Court has directed to maintain the status quo on the shares,'' the sources said.

On May 18, the Escorts hospital management, under instructions from Fortis Healthcare, which owns 90 per cent of stake in EHIRC, removed Dr Trehan and his support staff citing "conflict of interest".

After that, followed a series of allegations and counter allegations and both the parties even took legal recourse.

On May 26, burying the hatchet, the escorts management and Dr Trehan announced an out-of-court settlement with the reinstatement of the cardiologist as the hospital Executive Director.

UNI