Dr Amar Agarwal, director, Dr Agarwal’s eye hospital:
My ancestors may be from Jaipur, but I believe my roots are in Madras. I was born and brought up here and even if I was given a chance to live anywhere else in the world, I would still choose Chennai.
The work culture and ethics here are brilliant, the people are very dedicated to their profession. For instance, my doctors and staff never work according to the clock.
They are passionate about the job and do not mind scrubbing in for surgeries at any time of the day. Chennai is also one of the safest cities in the country.
I have 55 hospitals across India, even in Rajasthan, but it has never once occurred to me to move anywhere else.
Dr Mullasari Ajit, Director of Cardiology at Madras Medical Mission, senior cardiologist:
Patients here are more respectful to doctors in general.
They stick to one institution, instead of jumping from one hospital to the other — this trust is very valuable in professional practice.
Though I trained in Mumbai and also worked in Australia, I decided to settle in Chennai, the medical capital of the country, because hospitals here have the best infrastructure.
Here, we have single institutions for cardiac care like MMM or eye hospitals like Sankara Nethralaya that offer professional service.
Also, my wife Sulata, who runs a school for children with special needs and learning disabilities is very happy here; as the same holds good for education.
Dr Kamala Selvaraj, infertility specialist and director, GG Hospital:
I was born in Tiruchy, but came to Chennai when I was very young. It was a wonderful city to spend your childhood in, surrounded by paddy fields, cows and greenery in the heart of Nungambakkam.
Today, Chennai has sadly changed a lot with vehicular traffic, pollution and urbanisation — but I still prefer to live and work here as it is still the most peaceful metro in the country.
People here are very friendly and still have a connection with their traditions and culture. Thanks to Dr P.C. Reddy’s Apollo Hospitals, our city has also become a medical tourism hub, a haven for patients from Europe, America and Africa. Even my international patients find the city convenient and safe to live in, and take treatment.
Dr S.M. Balaji, director, Balaji Dental and Craniofacial Hospital
Chennai has always been far ahead in terms of technology and medicine than the rest of the country.
As the British landed here first, every advancement in medicine first arrived at our shores, making this city, historically, the best for healthcare.
I am from Nagercoil, and my wife is from Kerala — but Chennai is my home. From a professional perspective, it is well connected and easily accessible for all my patients from South East Asian countries.
I travel to Maldives, Mauritius and Seychelles to operate, but when there are complicated cases, I bring the patients here, as this city has the most experienced specialist teams.