France confers second-highest national honour on Narayana Health founder Dr. Devi Shetty

Dr. Devi Prasad Shetty, the renowned Indian cardiac surgeon and founder of Narayana Health, has been conferred with the 'Chevalier de l'Ordre National du Mérite' (Knight of the National Order of Merit), France's second-highest national honour. The award was presented to him during a ceremony organised by the Consulate General of France in Bengaluru on November 5. This is considered the second largest honour in France's national honours system, following the 'Legion of Honour'.

According to a Firstpost report, during the Covid-19 pandemic when healthcare services were disrupted, Dr. Devi Shetty and Narayana Health provided vaccination drives and logistical support to the French community and the French Consulate residing in Bengaluru. He has been given this prestigious award in recognition of these services.

In a statement released by Narayana Health, it was mentioned that he has been honoured for his generosity, availability, and commitment towards the French community during the health crisis. The hospital group further added that at a time of unprecedented challenges, Dr. Shetty and Narayana Health opened their doors for the French Consulate and the wider French community through vaccination initiatives and logistical aid, demonstrating an extraordinary spirit of cooperation and unity.

During the ceremony, Marc Lamy, the French Consul General in Bengaluru, stated, "We are pleased to recognise Dr. Devi Shetty for the generosity and unwavering support provided to the French community in Bengaluru during the pandemic. His work reflects the true spirit of unity and the enduring friendship between France and India."

This honour highlights Dr. Shetty's contributions to the healthcare sector beyond cardiac surgery and hospital management. Simultaneously, it demonstrates the importance of cooperation between India and France during times of severe public health challenges.

Dr. Devi Prasad Shetty was born in Karnataka. He completed his MBBS from Mysore University in 1978 and obtained a Master's degree in surgery in 1982. Subsequently, he specialised in cardiac surgery in the United Kingdom and received a fellowship from the Royal College of Surgeons of England. Upon returning to India, he joined the B.M. Birla Heart Research Centre in Kolkata. In the year 2000, he established Narayana Hrudayalaya in Bengaluru, which later expanded into the Narayana Health network.

Throughout his career, he has focused on making specialised healthcare services more affordable and accessible. His hospital model is based on treating a large number of patients, streamlining medical procedures, and using economies of scale to reduce treatment costs. He also played a significant role in developing Karnataka's 'Yashashvini' micro health insurance scheme with the aim of providing affordable health coverage to rural farmers. His method of providing low-cost medical treatment has gained international recognition, and Narayana Health's healthcare model has been studied by institutions such as the Harvard Business School.

France established the National Order of Merit on December 3, 1963, under the leadership of President Charles de Gaulle.