Apollo Hospitals, Hyderabad, had not applied for the award.
The selection of Apollo Hospitals, Hyderabad, for the “best medical tourism facility” award, as part of the National Tourism Awards 2011-12 by the Union ministry of tourism, has kicked up a controversy.
The awards were presented by President Pranab Mukherjee in the presence of Tourism Minister K. Chiranjeevi at a function in New Delhi on March 18. Andhra Pradesh, Chiranjeevi’s home state, bagged as many as seven awards, including the best state award for “comprehensive development of tourism in the rest of India”.
The “best medical tourism facility” award to Apollo Hospitals, Hyderabad, has raised many an eyebrow as promoters of the hospital are closely related to the tourism minister. Chiranjeevi’s son and popular Telugu film hero Ram Charan Teja (who is now set to make his Bollywood debut with Zanjeer remake) is married to Upasana, granddaughter of Apollo Hospitals chairman Pratap C. Reddy. Upasana is now heading the charity initiatives of Apollo Hospitals group.
An RTI query posed by Rakesh Reddy Dubbudu, a Warangalbased activist, with the tourism ministry has revealed that the Apollo Hospitals management did not apply for the award, but the state government did it on its behalf. The four other applications for the award, however, were sent by the managements of various hospitals.
“The RTI reply has revealed that senior IAS officer Chandana Khan, special chief secretary (tourism and culture), applied for the award on behalf of the Apollo Hospitals. On the other hand, the four other entries were sent by the managements of Ruby Hall Clinic, Pune, Somatheertham Ayurvedic Hospital and Yoga Centre Pvt Ltd, Thiruvananthapuram, Leo Juventa Centre for Integrated Medicine, Hyderabad, and Medi Connect India Division of Indian Holiday Pvt Ltd, New Delhi,” Rakesh said.
“The question is why should the state government recommend only one hospital?” he asked.
