Devi Shetty, Cardiac Surgeon
Cardiac Surgeon

Devi Shetty

Born 8 May 1953 · Karnataka

Founded Narayana Health, performing over 100,000 heart surgeries across India.

Devi Prasad Shetty is an Indian cardiac surgeon who is the chairman and founder of Narayana Health, a chain of 24 medical centers in India. He has performed more than 100,000 heart operations. In 2004 he was awarded the Padma Shri, the fourth highest civilian award, followed by the Padma Bhushan in 2012, the third highest civilian award by the Government of India for his contribution to the field of affordable healthcare.

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A detail that
surprised us

“

Dr. Devi Shetty performed over 100,000 heart operations, including India’s neonatal heart surgery on a 21-day-old infant named Ronnie in 1992.

The Story

1
🏥 In 1992, at B.M. Birla Hospital, Kolkata, Dr. Devi Shetty performed the neonatal heart surgery on a 21-day-old baby named Ronnie, marking a pioneering moment for infant cardiac surgery in India.
2
🌍 In 2001, he founded Narayana Hrudayalaya in Bangalore with a radical model, aiming to perform 400–600 cardiac surgeries annually per surgeon, far above the typical 100–150 surgeries in Indian hospitals.
3💸 By 2009, his hospital cut the cost of coronary bypass surgery to ₹95,000 (about $1,583), roughly one-tenth of the US price, using economies of scale and innovations like bulk purchasing and cross ventilation.
4In 2012, Shetty signed a joint venture deal with TriMedx, a subsidiary of Ascension Health, to expand his hospital chain internationally, including plans for a 2,000-bed health city in the Cayman Islands.

🏅 Awards & Honours

—
Padma Bhushan

🔍 One thing most people don't know

“

In 1992, Dr. Shetty performed neonatal heart surgery on a 21-day-old infant weighing just 1.6 kg, a procedure rare in India at the time.

🖼️

Through the Years

2 photographs from the archives
Devi Shetty in a formal portrait photograph (2014)
Devi Shetty in a formal portrait photograph (2014)
2014
Devi Shetty with Dr Edmond Fernandes in Bengaluru (2017)

🗓️ A Life in Moments

🕊️
Birth
Born in Kinnigoli, Karnataka
Devi Shetty was born as the eighth of nine children in the village of Kinnigoli in Dakshina Kannada district.
1953
📚
Education
Completed MBBS and General Surgery
Shetty earned his MBBS and postgraduate degree in General Surgery from Kasturba Medical College, Mangalore.
1979
⚡
Career
Returned to India from UK training
After completing FRCS from the Royal College of Surgeons, England, Shetty returned to India and began work at B.M. Birla Hospital, Kolkata.
1989
⚡
Career
Performed neonatal heart surgery
Shetty conducted neonatal open heart surgery on a 21-day-old baby, Ronnie, at B.M. Birla Hospital, a landmark in Indian cardiac surgery.
1992
⚡
Career
Founded Narayana Hrudayalaya
He established Narayana Hrudayalaya in Bangalore, introducing a high-volume, low-cost cardiac care model.
2001
🏅
Award
Awarded Padma Shri
Government of India honored Shetty with the Padma Shri for his efforts in affordable healthcare.
2004
🏅
Award
Received Padma Bhushan and partnership deal
Awarded the Padma Bhushan and signed an agreement with TriMedx to expand hospital chain internationally.
2012
⚡
Career
Opened Health City in Cayman Islands
Launched an international hospital facility targeting medical tourists, including patients from the US.
2014
More moments to come...
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🗝️Discoveries

Swipe to uncover hidden stories
01 / 04
🏆ACHIEVEMENT

By 2009, coronary bypass surgeries at Narayana Health cost ₹95,000, less than one-tenth of equivalent surgeries in the United States.

02 / 04
🔍LESSER KNOWN

Narayana Health’s business model includes 30% full-paying patients, 40% government scheme beneficiaries, and 30% subsidized care recipients, maintaining financial sustainability.

03 / 04
🌍HISTORICAL IMPACT

In 2012, Narayana Hrudayalaya partnered with Ascension Health’s subsidiary TriMedx to build a 2,000-bed health care city in the Cayman Islands, marking a rare Indian hospital international venture.

No quote recorded for Devi Shetty yet.

🎙️ Speeches & Recordings

These recordings preserve the legacy of Bharat's icons
Mechanics of Health - Dr. Devi Prasad Shetty with Sadhguru
2018
More from this archive
Mechanics of Health - Dr. Devi Prasad Shetty with Sadhguru
01
2018
Mechanics of Health - Dr. Devi Prasad Shetty with Sadhguru
Top Heart Surgeon Dr. Devi Shetty On India's Healthcare Revolution | GDPpodcast
02
Top Heart Surgeon Dr. Devi Shetty On India's Healthcare Revolution | GDPpodcast
It's not a solution if it's not affordable : Dr. Devi Prasad Shetty at TEDxGateway 2013
03
It's not a solution if it's not affordable : Dr. Devi Prasad Shetty at TEDxGateway 2013
Giants of Cardiothoracic Surgery: An Interview With Devi Shetty
04
Giants of Cardiothoracic Surgery: An Interview With Devi Shetty
Message from Dr. Devi Shetty | World Heart Day
05
Message from Dr. Devi Shetty | World Heart Day
"Dr. Devi Shetty Talks About InsidER - India's First Medical Docu-Drama Series!"
06
"Dr. Devi Shetty Talks About InsidER - India's First Medical Docu-Drama Series!"
Padma Bhushan Dr Devi Prasad Shetty On The LEGENDS With Arnab | Republic TV
07
Padma Bhushan Dr Devi Prasad Shetty On The LEGENDS With Arnab | Republic TV
Future of Cardiac Care & Telemedicine's Impact | Dr. Devi Shetty
08
Future of Cardiac Care & Telemedicine's Impact | Dr. Devi Shetty
In Conversation - Episode 6: Dr. Devi Shetty
09
In Conversation - Episode 6: Dr. Devi Shetty
Dr Devi Shetty On Selecting The Right Ventilator And Medical Information
10
Dr Devi Shetty On Selecting The Right Ventilator And Medical Information
Dr. Devi Prasad Shetty, Chairman, Narayana Group of Hospitals at IIMB's 40th Annual Convocation.
11
Dr. Devi Prasad Shetty, Chairman, Narayana Group of Hospitals at IIMB's 40th Annual Convocation.

🌱 What changed because of them

Dr. Devi Shetty revolutionized cardiac care accessibility in India by applying economies of scale in hospital operations, drastically lowering surgery costs while maintaining quality. His Narayana Health model influenced government healthcare schemes like Ayushman Bharat by demonstrating scalable, affordable private healthcare. The international expansion to places like the Cayman Islands introduced Indian healthcare innovations to global medical tourism markets.

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