More often than not, first-generation entrepreneurs have been known to flounder on the succession issue. Not only is it a touchy—even volatile—subject, it is also left unresolved till too late due to either oversight or complacence. But Dr Prathap C Reddy, founder-chairman of Apollo Hospitals, is not shirking this responsibility. The 81-year-old promoter has been preparing for the future for a while now, grooming his daughters into various leadership positions in the hospital chain set up by him, while he continues to play an active role.
And they haven’t let him down. “My daughters got passionately involved in the business. They did everything,” says the proud father. “They even printed the first brochure of Apollo Hospitals, which was so good that people in the US didn’t believe it was made in India. They were involved right from that level.”
The Ties That Bind
Not that the sisters claim to be above a fight or two. “We are very different people. Suneeta is an introvert; Sangita is someone who thinks things through. We are not like peas in a pod. We understand that and are respectful of boundaries,” says Shobana. In this respect, a ground rule set by their mother Sucharitha Reddy has proved particularly useful. “Mom said that even if you fight, don’t sleep on a fight. She taught us to say sorry before sleeping, irrespective of who is at fault,” says Sangita who has led the group’s retail health care foray, which includes Apollo Health and Lifestyle Ltd. A firm believer in technology, she is also working on the digitisation of all patient records and making Apollo a paperless organisation.
A Rs 2,500-crore capex plan has been allocated for the next three years of which Apollo has already spent Rs 600 crore. Growth will also come through acquisitions. “We are in a high growth phase. We have incubated new companies. We will be building more infrastructure and capacity. It is going to be very challenging,” says Suneeta.
(This story appears in the 28 November, 2014 issue of Forbes India. To visit our Archives, click here.)
Based on the true story of this hospital, ramana movie came.
on May 30, 2016If I can correctly recall, few years back there was a cover story on Apollo Group/Prathap C. Reddy in Outlook, and all the copies of the magazine were vanished from Hyderabad over nite.
on Dec 2, 2014Healthcare in India blog looks at the emerging trends in healthcare in India Apollo Hospitals is an Indian hospital chain based in Chennai, India. It was founded by Dr Prathap C. Reddy in 1983 apollo group has developed services in telemedicine, after starting a pilot project in 2000 in Pratap Reddy\'s home village. It is now the largest telemedicine provider in India with 71 centersThe success of Apollo Hospitals has made it a topic for Harvard Business School case study.
on Nov 28, 2014In the corporate world, ethics do not matter but only profits! Apollo is one group of hospitals who exploit money with unnecessary surgeries. This is an open secret!
on Nov 27, 2014I had personally experienced this from Apollo. During my pregnancy, due to critical condition I reached Apollo with lot of hope. But I felt like I entered hell after few hours. No body cares about the life. Only money matters there. The doctors told that I have to be on observation for 3 more days. When I said that I want to get discharged, I was shocked to hear what that doctor said "IF WE DO THE OPERATION TODAY, WILL YOU STAY"... What does it mean. Even medicines while billing they had written many things which are not used to me.. When I questioned, the nurses started fighting with me.. The worst experience in my life.
on Dec 1, 2015Dr Prathap Reddy has done well for himself but has shortchanged the poor people of Delhi. He got free land for Apollo Hospital at New Delhi with a promise that he will treat 25 percent patients free of cost. Even after almost 20 years he has been avoiding to fulfill his commitment by entangling the issue in legal battle with the Delhi Government. Rather than treating poor patients he is using Apollo Delhi hospital to earn megabucks for his family by promoting it as a medical tourism destination. India will remember him as the doctor who commercialised healthcare to make money by exploiting the poor with the help of his political connections.
on Nov 24, 2014\"He is six months old. In the night, I call out to him when he is sleeping and he wakes up and insists I take him home with me,\" says Reddy Sir, You have a an Einstein in making, who could comprehend and speak in 6 months.
on Nov 24, 2014