Severing his ties with Escorts Hospital, Naresh Trehan announced joining the rival Apollo Group as the curtains came down over a bitter standoff with the hospital's new management.
NEW DELHI: Severing his ties with Escorts Hospital, an institution he set up, noted cardiologist Naresh Trehan on Wednesday announced joining the rival Apollo Group as the curtains came down over a bitter standoff with the hospital's new management.
Trehan and Apollo Hospitals Group Chairman Pratap C Reddy made a joint announcement about the move with the cardiologist taking along a 'significant' number of doctors from Escorts.
Industry sources said the 10 per cent stake of Trehan in Escorts was bought by 'Friends of Ranbaxy family'.
Neither Trehan nor the Ranbaxy-owned Fortis Group that bought Escorts in 2005 confirmed the transfer of stake.
"I now feel it is time to dissociate myself with the Fortis Group in every respect and start a new chapter in my professional life," said Trehan ending a 20-year-long association with Escorts.
"Dr Trehan's inclusion in our able cardiac team is a step forward in our endeavour...," Reddy said.
It was not immediately clear in what position Trehan was joining Escorts with Reddy merely saying, "He is joining as a good professional."
Asked about the number of doctors joining along with Trehan, he said "a significant number".
The cardiologist and his close associate Yatin Mehta will be joining Apollo on June four.
"My doctors and our teams are delighted that Dr Reddy of Apollo Hospitals has invited us to join hands in forging a partnership," Trehan said.
Apollo sources said discussions were still on over defining the roles for Trehan and his team.
Meanwhile, Fortis Healthcare said the surgeon has quit its Escorts Heart Institute and Research Centre (EHIRC).
"The Executive Director of EHIRC Naresh Trehan has decided to disengage himself from the institute with effect from June 1," Fortis and Trehan said in a joint statement.
It said that Trehan has decided to focus on bringing to "fruition his new dreams".
On Trehan's resignation, Fortis Managing Director Shivinder Mohan Singh said that the eminent doctor has left a strong legacy and foundation that will continue to be built upon.
Expressing full confidence about Escorts team pursuing their excellence in the area of patient care, he said he was happy that the future of the institute will be steered by an organisation like Fortis, which is fast taking the lead in shaping the healthcare delivery sector of the country with a unique focus on quality and patient centricity.
"Trehan and Shivinder M Singh, who have enjoyed working together, look forward to building upon their relationship going forward," said the joint statement issued by them.
Last fortnight, the rift between Trehan and Fortis Healthcare, which owns EHIRC, came out in the open with the management saying that it had sacked the cardiologist as Executive Director of the institute.
Trehan opposed the move and approached the Delhi High Court and ultimately the two parties agreed for an out of court settlement.
Fortis had withdrawn unconditionally all the allegations it made against the cardiologist and reinstated him as ED of EHIRC.
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