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| Dr K P Haridas |
He dreams of bringing robotic surgery to Kerala so that people can have access to modern medical technology. In a career spanning over 42 years, he has donned many hats. He is an educator, surgeon, entrepreneur, philanthropist, as well as a loving husband and a doting father.
Prof Dr Kalamandiram Paramu Haridas (70) is a benevolent entrepreneur. Chairman and Managing Director of Lords Hospital, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, He is as passionate about surgery as he is about life. Having taught and practised General, Gastro-Intestinal & Minimal Access Surgery for close to four decades, he is considered the grandmaster of surgery in Kerala. He has the reputation of taking on difficult cases which are often declared inoperable at other centres and successfully operating the patient. People often come in search of his surgical expertise, grounded nature and focused work ethic. The quintessential self-made man, Dr Haridas, did not have it easy becoming a doctor.
Humble beginning
Born to traditional Ayurvedic medicine practitioners, Dr Haridas was the fifth among nine children. He lived with four brothers and four sisters in a small suburb of Thiruvananthapuram, Varkala. He was a good student and was adjudged the best outgoing student in Navaikulam Higher Secondary School. “A memorable moment at school was when the Headmaster of my school MP Appan, also a famous poet, gave me a book on English idioms and how to use them for scoring high grades during 10th standard,” he fondly remembers. Incidentally, his elder brother KP Somadas was the first student to score a first class in the SSLC examination (10th standard) from the same school.
But young Dr Haridas was drawn towards medicine by his family doctor. He was in awe of the doctor’s work and the respect it got him. “Our family doctor piqued my interest in medical field during the time – the care and commitment he showed to the needy, the respect he received in return from public for his contribution. All this was inspiring,” he says.
After completing his schooling in 1959, he joined SN College, Quilon for pre-university. During this period he was actively involved in a lot of social service which later inspired him to join the NCC. He was also a keen enthusiast of athletics, winning several school level competitions.
Early struggle
He joined medical school in 1961 and passed out in 1967 with a high distinction from Medical College, Thiruvananthapuram. He served as a lecturer in pharmacology from 1968 to 1970 before joining Calicut Medical College for his Masters degree in Surgery. He took up surgery as he found it fascinating and challenging at the same time.
“I was fascinated by stalwart surgeons of the 1960s at Medical College, Thiruvananthapuram – Dr Sivarajan, Dr Jaysimhan, Dr Susan George. My interest in surgery increased during the final year of MBBS and period of house surgency. I once assisted Dr Susan George (Prof of Obstetrics & Gynaecology at SAT Hospital in Thiruvananthapuram) during my training period and she commented, “Doctor, you have a knack of doing things and you must take up surgery.” These words are still etched in my memory and were an inspiration for me to take up surgery,” he shares. “Looking back, I probably wouldn’t have chosen anything else,” he adds.
Stint abroad
In 1974, he left for England for higher studies, where he completed fellowship in General Surgery (FRCS – Glasgow). He worked there for six years; from1975 – 1980 as Registrar, Surgery Department of Surgery, Musgrove Park Hospital; Medway Hospital, Kent, England and later at Whip’s Hospital London, England. “I had the opportunity to work with and learn from some great surgeons such as Dr Charles Collins and Dr Christopher Cutting. They were pioneer surgeons of their time and it was a privilege to work and share a theatre with them,” he says.
After six years of experience he returned to India and joined the Medical College services, where he continued till his retirement as Professor and Head of the Department of General Surgery, Calicut Medical College, Kerala.
He had a brief stint in the Middle East. “From 1987 to 1992, I worked as a Consultant Surgeon and Director of Medical Services with the Ministry of Health, UAE,” Dr Haridas informs.
Enterprising ambitions
In the year 2000, Dr Haridas started Lords Hospital, a multidisciplinary hospital in Thiruvananthapuram. Lords Hospital was born out of his true passion for surgery and the desire to bring the latest developments to the needy at affordable costs. Besides providing excellent healthcare, this institution has also provided employment to more than 350 households in and around its vicinity. “Lords Hospital is the realisation of a dream I conceived along with the co-operation of investors, employees and clients from all walks of life. It is a unit of Maharaja Medical Centre and was founded in April 2000 with a mission to provide best medical care using state-of-the-art technology to patients; irrespective of their social or financial background. Here at Lords, ‘the patient is the lord’. We provide quality healthcare using latest surgical techniques with the patient at the core of everything we do,” he beams.
Over the past 12 years, he has transformed Lords Hospital into a leading teaching centre for laparoscopic surgery. His teaching programmes in laparoscopic surgery, piles surgery, varicose vein surgery, weight loss surgery and many other latest advanced surgical procedures are attended by students from the different parts of world, like the UK, the UAE, Russia, China etc. Domestic as well as international surgeons also attend Lords as observers. “Lords has organised various free medical camps, thus fulfilling my long-time ambition to make sure that affordable, advanced healthcare reaches our remotest villages,” says Dr Haridas.
Surgeon par excellence
His skills as a surgeon was demonstrated when he successfully did the first liver resection at Medical College, Thiruvananthapuram in December 1980. It was done at a time when very few surgeons were performing liver resection surgeries in the whole of India. He also became the first surgeon in the medical college services to do a minimally invasive surgery (laparoscopic surgery). The first laparoscopic surgery (laparoscopic appendicectomy) was done in June 1996 at GG Hospital, Thiruvananthapuram. He has performed thousands of gastrointestinal surgeries, most of the them declared inoperable by others. During his tenure he also oversaw the improvement of general surgical services at Thiruvananthapuram Medical College. “During my 43-year career, I have performed thousands of advanced surgeries and since 1996, I have been performing advanced laparoscopic and minimal access surgeries,” he shares.
In his celebrated career, Dr Haridas has had his share of professional affiliations and memberships like the fellowship of Single Incision Surgery, SILS 2011; Obesity and Metabolic Surgery affiliation 2011; International Federation (IFSO) Obesity & Metabolic Surgery Society of India, OSSI 2009; Minimal Access Surgery, FMAS 2007, Royal College of Surgeons, RCPS, Glasgow, UK 1979. He is the life member of Indian Medical Association; Association of Surgeons of India; Obesity and Metabolic Surgery society and Rotarian Polio Plus Society Revenue District Coordinator 2010.
He often attends conferences and meetings around the world. Sharing a heartfelt experience he recalls, “During a conference in Switzerland, I happened to travel from Davos to Geneva. I had a chance meeting with a student of mine, Dr SS Lal who now serves as a consultant to the World Health Organisation. It was a great pleasure to see him, and particularly to see that my student has reached a high-ranking position with the WHO in Geneva.”
Administration or active practice?
A passionate surgeon, he could never leave practice and thus juggles two jobs at a time. “I have never made a completed shift from active practice to administration. Whilst it is extremely difficult, I try to manage both, purely for the reason that surgery is my first passion; it is the source of my meditation,” he explains. “This gives me the drive and the energy to work every day. There are thousands of patients in need of my care from all parts of the world, I have a duty and commitment to them, and as such, I will continue to be involved in active practice,” he declares.
However age is catching up with him and the next generation is also ready to shoulder responsibilities. Dr Haridas has mentored his son to take over the administration from him. “Lords Hospital was born out of my true passion for surgery and the desire to bring the latest developments in healthcare to the needy at affordable costs. I believe I have largely succeeded in achieving this. However, the journey has involved a lot of hard work and stress,” he laments. “This is largely due to managing both professional work as well as being involved in the management of the hospital. However, my son Harish Haridas, who is an alumni of Oxford University (MBA) in England, has agreed to take up the management of the hospital and this will enable me to dedicate 100 per cent of my time to my patients,” he says.
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| Dr K P Haridas with family |
Family man
Talking about his family he says that his wife has been a pillar of support and the reason for his success. “After completing medical education, I got married to my beautiful wife, Usha Haridas. Our families knew each other and as such, I had the opportunity to meet her and know her very early on in life. We have now been married close to 48 years,” he shares. Dr Haridas is blessed with three children- two daughters and a son and four grandchildren. Daughter Deepa is a doctor and practices with her husband Dr G Gangaprasad in the UK, while Meera lives with her radiologist husband Dr KC Pyarelal in Trichur. The youngest son Harish is married to paediatrician Dr Leshmi and lives in Thiruvananthapuram.
The bucket list
Dr Haridas is a content man and does not want to change the way his life has unfolded. However he does regret not writing a book. “I have been operating continuously since 1970, that is more than 43 years! I am not a textbook surgeon. I have always tried to innovate, be creative and try to bring the artistic nature in me to my work,” he offers. “The only thing I regret is not writing a book to share these innovations. However, I intend to address this, I am working on a book called The Making of a Surgeon.” he divulges.
At the age of 70 he feels there is still a lot to achieve. “I feel I am still learning, both in my journey in life as a person as well as a surgeon professionally,” he says. “I would like to be active in my profession as long as I can,” he adds. On second thoughts he says that he wants to do his bit for the society. “I am keen to give something back to society – as a teacher, impart my surgical knowledge/skills to new generation surgeons,” he declares. “Ensure that in a small way, I address the healthcare needs of our great nation, particularly lifestyle diseases. I envision Lords as a centre of excellence for these,” he further adds.
This zealous enthusiast has a lot of aspirations from life. “I want to be actively involved in charitable projects. Focus on projects with a massive social impact,” he says. He thinks and adds,“ I would also like to build an orphanage and an old age home for the elderly and bring robotic surgery to Lords, hopefully if I am still working in five years time.”
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