‘Relations with Ramadoss friendly’

Credited with having performed India’s first heart transplant, Dr Venugopal expressed satisfaction with the way things are functioning at AIIMS post his superannuation.

At the brief ceremony organised to announce his joining the Alchemist Group as the Chairman-Medical Division of the Alchemist Group of hospitals, a rather diplomatic Dr Venugopal carefully chose his words while expressing his views on the zealous health minister.

“I agree with the anti-smoking campaigns of the minister as smoking entails several health hazards. But the campaign for homosexuality is controversial and I would not like to comment,” he responded when asked about Ramadoss’ increasing focus on smoking and gay rights.

Equally balanced were Dr Venugopal’s view on the political interference in the selection of heads of institutes like the AIIMS and the PGI.

“My selection as the Director at AIIMS was purely on merit as I was the senior most faculty member. Prior to that, I was offered the directorship which I had declined. A lot of dignity was attached to the post of Head, but now things and society are changing,” said the former AIIMS director.

Chairman of the Alchemist Group K D Singh, meanwhile, said Dr Venugopal would regularly visit their Panchkula hospital and also perform cardiac surgeries for the patients. Singh added that since the Group would also foray into telemedicine and R&D, including stem cell and genetic engineering, Dr Venugopal would be the mentor of the project.

“We plan to invest Rs 1000 crore in the next 3 to 4 years and open 15 mid-sized hospitals across the country. These would include three in Punjab also,” added K D Singh.

Dr Venugopal also performed a cardiac surgery at the Alchemist hospital, Panchkula, later in the day.