Dr. Prem Nair, the Group Medical Director of Amrita Hospitals in Kochi and Faridabad, was awarded the Tharang Golden Honour for Global Excellence by the Indian Medical Association. The Hon’ble Chief Minister of Kerala, Sri Pinarayi Vijayan, presented the honour at the 98th All India Medical Conference held in Thiruvanathapuram, the state’s capital.
This accolade recognises Dr. Nair’s outstanding contributions to medicine, emphasising his dedication to compassion-based patient care, especially to reach the poor, as well as his influential leadership in shaping affordable and accessible healthcare. It also acknowledges his tireless efforts in advancing and sharing medical knowledge, establishing him as a prominent figure within the healthcare community both nationally and internationally.
With the aim to address healthcare disparities, Dr. Nair was instrumental in establishing Amrita Hospital, Kochi in 1998 and then bridging the hospital to become Kerala’s first private medical college in 2002. Under his visionary leadership, Amrita Hospitals has evolved into India’s largest private healthcare institution, setting a benchmark for accessible and top-quality healthcare services.
Amrita Hospital, Kochi has become a symbol of excellence and compassion, with 1,350 beds, and achieving groundbreaking medical milestones, including Asia’s first upper-arm double hand transplant and India’s first surgery on a foetus in the womb. The institution continues to lead in medical innovation, investing in cutting-edge technologies, and contributing significantly to medical education, research, and community outreach.
In 2022, Amrita Hospital expanded its impact with a new facility in Faridabad, covering 130 acres and equipped with 2,600 beds, specialized centres, advanced medical imaging services, and state-of-the-art facilities for handling infectious diseases.
These efforts set a benchmark for accessible and top-quality healthcare services. As of December 2022, Amrita Hospitals and the allied medical institutions of the Mata Amritanandamayi Math have provided completely free treatment to 5.9 million (59 lakh) patients and subsidised care to another 300,000 (3 lakh)—a total of $105 million (₹816 crore) in charitable medical care.
Dr. Nair’s academic journey includes a Doctor of Medicine and Fellowship of the American College of Physicians in Hepatology from the University of Southern California. His influential career encompasses key positions such as Medical Director at Amrita Hospital, Provost of Medical Sciences at Amrita University, and Consulting Gastroenterologist in California.
He is also a member of the Standing Selection Committee, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi and President Elect of the Telemedicine Society of India (TSI) and President of TSI Kerala. As well, he is a Past President with the Association of Healthcare Providers (India).
The All-India Medical Conference, a gathering of medical experts, provided a fitting platform to acknowledge and celebrate Dr. Prem Nair’s outstanding career. The event brought together leaders and more than 2,000 representatives from different parts of the country to recognize and applaud the awardees’ contributions to the medical field.
