Last 75 days ‘hit our inner hearts’: Apollo Chairman

“What happened over the last 75 days hit our inner hearts,” said Prathap C Reddy, Chairman of Apollo Hospitals.

At a condolence meeting to pay respects to J Jayalalithaa, former chief minister of Tamil Nadu who passed away on Monday, Reddy, referring to the last couple of months when she had undergone treatment at the hospital, recalled that he had known her for over four decades.

In an emotional tribute, he said: “There are no words to describe what she was. She had the capacity to care for people and won the respect of all,” he said.

The disappointment that Jayalalithaa had succumbed so suddenly following a cardiac arrest, after the miraculous progress that she had made previously, was obvious. “Apollo Hospitals over the last 33 years has always followed the principle of “giving everything possible to all those who walk in. But we have never done this,” he said, referring to the meeting.

Reddy said he was “deeply grateful” to all the staff. He also appreciated the State government and authorities for giving the hospital a free hand to do all that was needed.

This morning when he had walked into the intensive care unit, he had found the nurses and doctors silent and lost in their own thoughts, and he had decided to organise the meeting, he said.

Tamil Nadu Health Minister C Vijayabhaskar said he could not comprehend that she was no more.

According to the minister, even on the day prior to her cardiac arrest, the doctors were discussing about her recovery and also about letting her get back into the routine of meeting officials and senior ministers, in stages. “A miracle had happened and she had survived a difficult phase. But unfortunately, God has willed otherwise,” he said.

Appreciating the work of Apollo Hospitals, he said that international experts had acknowledged that the doctors had done all that was possible. The hospital had been ‘broad minded’ and allowed external experts to lend support, he added.

Singapore Minister for Foreign Affairs Vivian Balakrishnan, who was in Chennai to pay his last respects, said the late CM had been a strong proponent of building closer relations between Tamil Nadu and Singapore. “I have never forgotten meeting her more than a decade ago. Her passion, energy and grand vision were so inspiring.”

Harshavardhan Neotia, President, Federation of India Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said: “We share our deepest condolences with her family and the people of Tamil Nadu. Jayalalithaa was a visionary leader and will continue to inspire us.”

M Rafeeque Ahmed, President, Southern India Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said that industries will never forget the valuable contributions made by her.

COMMENT NOW