Dr.Naresh Kumar Trehan, the 'heartbeat' of India

New Delhi, Sep.12 : Dr. Naresh Kumar Trehan, the renowned personality in the medical world, is today viewed as a pioneer in the field of cardiology in India. He is a renowned cardiovascular and cardiothoracic surgeon.

Earlier, Dr. Trehan was the Executive Director and Chief Cardiovascular Surgeon of the Escorts Heart Institute and Research Centre for 20 years. Over the years, he has made a tremendous difference in public opinion about heart ailments.

"Large number of Indians used to come to me in New York for coronary bypass surgery as this branch of surgery had not developed in India till then. Everyone would ask me why didn't I come back to India? I thought that if at all I have to return to India, I wouldn't go just for practice," Dr. Naresh Trehan, the cardiovascular and cardiothoracic surgeon, narrated.

"I had some great plans to develop cardiac surgery in India, as I came from an academic background at New York University. The plans included bringing in the best cardiac treatment in India, to arrange for better training of doctors in India along with pioneering new research projects with a special focus on Indian patients," he added.

Dr. Naresh tells that the first step to achieve his objectives was the establishment of Escorts Heart Institute in collaboration with Mr. H P Nanda. The project started in 1981 and completed in 1988, and that's when he returned.

"When I came back, the facilities for me to get started were already established and it was a great homecoming. We assembled a great team of cardiac surgeons in the world. We tried many new procedures and therapies," said Dr. Naresh Trehan.

great thing about Punjabis is that we are perhaps the best suited for heart surgery. We Punjabis have stamina and toughness to stand the pressure of heart surgery. The pressure of heart surgery is tremendous. It takes a lot of guts and responsibility because the patient will either live or die in our hands.

He says that the study shows that there are 3 endemic states in India- Gujarat, Rajasthan and Punjab. The people of these states are twice at a greater risk when compared to others. It's no mystery why it is so. Punjabis often relish foods like Bhaturas, Lassi, fried food and heavily sweet deserts.

"To add to it all, many of them drink (alcohol) too. That's precisely why I say Punjabis are at a great risk of confronting heart disorders," Naresh warns.

He says that the Indian medical system has some of the biggest challenges to meet. The biggest of all is the question of providing healthcare at different levels to different people so that nobody is denied healthcare.

"This is what I am trying to do in my next project. My new venture at the Medicity is an attempt is to create world's best facilities and offer them at affordable costs. Another need that I am trying to look at is the development of more rural and mid-level health projects," Dr. Naresh Trehan informed.

Presently, Dr. Trehan is the Senior Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgeon at Apollo Hospitals in New Delhi and also Chairman, Global Health Private Limited (popularly known as Medicity Gurgaon).

Dr. Trehan has received many prestigious awards, including the coveted Padma Shree and the Padma Bhushan Awards. y Vibha Dham

ANI