Venugopal on heading Alchemist: My team will join me

One of India’s leading cardiac surgeons, Dr Venugopal said though he had several offers, he was “very clear” about joining a hospital or group that offered him a chance to develop an institute on the lines of AIIMS. “There was a lot of confusion in our minds, too,” he said. “I want to develop an institution AIIMS that promotes the ideals of education, research and patient-care. Alchemist is offering me the same facilities that I enjoyed at AIIMS.

“So I have decided to offer them my services.”

He said he would be based out of Delhi.

Under Dr Venugopal’s stewardship, Alchemist will have a research wing on nanotechnology, bio-molecular sciences, and stem cell therapy.

About the appointment of his successor to the chair of AIIMS director, Dr Venugopal said the delay in selection of a candidate proved the point that the Union Health ministry was interfering in the premier medical institution’s internal affairs. “When I was there (director at AIIMS), the ministry was interfering but I did not succumb,” he said. “Now they want to place their man.”

Meanwhile, optimistic about setting up other institutions on the lines of AIIMS, Dr Venugopal said, “We initiated a project to set up since AIIMS-like institutes. And I want all of them to be better than the original. I have spent 49 years at this institute and I still feel for it.”

Asked whether he would like to be involved in setting up these institutions he said, “I want to pass on the experiences that I gathered in the years spent at AIIMS.”

Wishing Union Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss a happy birthday — Ramadoss turned 40 on Monday — Dr Venugopal said he hopes Ramadoss would continue to lead India to a healthy future.