It is with immense pride we share that Dr Ravi Kannan (Director, Cachar Cancer Hospital and Research Center (CCHRC), Assam) has been named as the recipient of the prestigious ‘2023 Ramon Magsaysay Award – Hero for Holistic Healthcare’, a recognition which is Asia’s equivalent to the Nobel Prize.
The Ramon Magsaysay Award is Asia’s premier prize and highest honor, which celebrates the greatness of spirit and transformative leadership in Asia. Dr Kannan is the sole awardee from India in the 65th anniversary (edition) of the Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation (RMAF). An official statement from the RMAF board reads, “This award recognizes his devotion to his profession’s highest ideals of public service, his combination of skill, commitment, and compassion in pushing the boundaries of people-centered, pro-poor health care and cancer care, and for having built, without expectation of reward, a beacon of hope for millions in the Indian state of Assam, thus setting a shining example for all.”
Shri Himanta Biswa Sarma (Chief Minister, Assam) congratulated Dr Kannan and tweeted that Dr Kannan has “played an impactful role in transforming cancer care in Assam, especially in rural areas.”
Under Dr Kannan’s exemplary leadership and guidance, CCHRC was transformed to a superior quality comprehensive cancer hospital and research center, in a region otherwise known for challenging geographical terrains and limited access to health care services. Dr Kannan’s strategies combined with his infective compassion and support from like minded individuals, has propelled the center to offer patients with low cost and high quality services (including palliative care) via 28 departments which is a significant change in the range of services that were offered at the center initially. Dr Kannan’s leadership style also attracted individuals from across the country to join hands, to take the staff strength from a mere 23 to the current team of 451 passionate individuals.
A true visionary, Dr Kannan, who is also an advocate for palliative care services, has also received the Padma Shri award (India’s fourth-highest civilian award) in 2021, in recognition of his transformative contribution towards healthcare.
Please click here to read the announcement on the RMAF website.
Hearty Congratulations, Dr Ravi Kannan!
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